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BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

o 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


NEW  MEXICO 


ITS  RESOURCES  IN  PUBLIC  LANDS, 
AGRICULTURE,   HORTICULTURE, 
STOCK-RAISING,  COAL,  COPPER, 
GOLD  AND  OTHER  MINERALS. 


ITS    ATTRACTIONS    FOR    THE 
TOURIST,  HOMESEEKER,  INVESTOR, 
SPORTSMAN,  HEALTHSEEKER 
AND    ARCHAEOLOGIST 


Published  by  the  Bureau  of  Publicity 
of   the 

STATE  LAND  OFFICE 

Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 

1916 


NEW  MEXICO 


ITS  RESOURCES  IN  PUBLIC  LANDS, 
AGRICULTURE,   HORTICULTURE, 
STOCK-RAISING,  COAL,  COPPER, 
GOLD  AND  OTHER  MINERALS. 


ITS    ATTRACTIONS    FOR    THE 
TOURIST,  HOMESEEKER,  INVESTOR, 
SPORTSMAN,  HEALTHSEEKER 
AND    ARCHAEOLOGIST 


Published  by  the  Bureau  of  Publicity 
of  the 

STATE  LAND  OFFICE 

Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 
// 

1916 


State   Record    Trint, 
Santa   Fe,   New   Mexico. 


«•  7  07  / 

BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 


FOREWORD. 

Although  New  Mexico  is  one  of 
the  youngest  states  in  the  Union,  it 
is  among  the  oldest  in  point  of 
Christian  civilization,  having  been 
colonized  by  Spaniards  in  1598.  But, 
even  as  early  as  1540  to  1541  Coro- 
nado  had  explored  this  part  of  the 
country,  bringing  with  him  several 
Catholic  priests,  one  of  whom  re- 
mained with  the  Pueblo  Indians  for 
the  purpose  of  Christianizing  them. 

Notwithstanding  its  early  settle- 
ment, however,  its  history  seems  to 
be  but  little  known  to  the  average 
American  student,  and  while  the  ob- 
ject of  this  publication  is  not  for  the 
purpose  of  enlightening  its  readers 
concerning  the  fascinating  history  of 
New  Mexico,  its  early  colonization 
is  mentioned  because  that  fact  indi- 
cates that  its  agricultural  and  com- 
mercial value  was  appreciated  even 
at  so  remote  a  period. 

The  aim  and  object  of  this  book- 
let is  to  call  attention  to  the  re- 
sources of  New  Mexico,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  stimulating  a  greater  inter- 
est in  the  state,  as  well  as  to  an- 
swer the  numerous  inquiries  that  are 
constantly  being  received  concerning 
the  superior  advantages  that  this 
state  has  to  offer  to  homeseekers 
and  investors,  in  order  that  those 
who  may  be  looking  for  new  fields 
of  endeavor  may  obtain  a  clearer 
conception  of  the  possibilities  of  this 
part  of  the  "GREAT  SOUTHWEST." 

There  are  twenty-six  counties  in 
the  State  of  New  Mexico,  and  this 
booklet  contains  a  short  sketch  of 
each  one,  giving  its  population  ac- 
cording) to  the  last  Government  Cen- 
sus of  1910;  its  number  of  acres  of 
public  lands  open  to  entry;  its  re- 
sources, productions  and  climatic 
conditions.  In  addition  thereto  may 
be  found  within  these  pages  infor- 
mation, brief  but  accurate,  regarding 
the  possibilities  of  New  Mexico  in 
general,  its  production  in  agricul- 


ture,  horticulture,  minerals  and  live- 
stock; the  character  of  its  public 
lands  and  how  they  may  be  acquired 
either  by  purchase  or  lease. 

This  booklet  seeks  to  open  the 
door  to  the  wonderful  possibilities 
and  resources  of  New  Mexico  and 
to  give  its  readers  a  glimpse  of  things 
that  may  be  realized  in  this  land  of 
plenty— "THE  SUNSHINE  STATE." 

Further   information  may     be     ob- 
tained  by  communicating  with 
ROBERT  P.  ERVIEN, 

Commissioner    of    Public    Lands, 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 


GENERAL  INFORMATION. 

Since  the  admission  of  New  Mex- 
ico into  the  Union,  in  January,  1912, 
the  state  has  advanced  steadily,  and 
her  range  of  opportunity  extends 
over  many  wide  fields.  The  extent 
of  land  occupation  is,  perhaps,  the 
broadest  in  both  irrigated  and  un- 
irrigated  propositions,  but  new  in- 
dustries are  being)  opened  and  there 
are  others  awaiting  capital  for  de- 
velopment offering  fine  opportuni- 
ties for  investment. 

The  various  mines  of  the  state 
have  been  operated  recently  to  an 
extent  scarcely  dreamed  of  a  few 
years  ago,  and  New  Mexico  has  come 
to  a  realization  of  the  fact  that  the 
state's  mineral  productions  are 
among  its  best  assets. 

It  has  been  estimated  that  the 
coal  deposits  of  this  state  are  great- 
er than  Pennsylvania  ever  has  pro- 
duced, or  ever  will  produce,  while 
her  oil  and  gas,  as  yet,  are  an  un- 
touched treasure. 

The  extensive  forests  of  New  Mex- 
ico offer  splendid  opportunities  for 
the  lumberman,  while  their  ranges 
afford  feed  for  an  immense  amount 
of  livestock. 

Three  great  trunk  lines  of  rail- 
roads run  through  the  state,  touch- 
ing all  of  the  leading  cities  and 
towns,  while  others  reach  the  less 
important  localities,  and  if  present 
building  plans  are  realized,  many  dis- 
tricts that  now  are  somewhat  iso- 
lated will  be  brought  more  closely  to 
the  markets. 

New  Mexico  is  a  very  large  state, 
and  there  are  some  sections  of  it 
that  are  inaccessible  excepting  by 
means  of  the  old  fashioned  stage 
coach  or  the  more  primitive  burro, 
but  much  attention  has  been  given 
in  the  last  few  years  to  the  public 
highways  of  the  state,  with  a  view 
to  conforming  them  to  the  present 
standard  of  good  roads,  and  the  re- 
cent securing  of  funds  for  this  pur- 
pose will  aid,  very  materially,  in 


bringing  the  producer  closer  to  the 
markets  by  giving  him  an  easier 
means  of  reaching,  them. 

The  idea  impressed  upon  the  minds 
of  children  a  generation  ago  that 
New  Mexico  was  a  part  of  the 
"Great  American  Desert,"  has  be- 
come somewhat  modified  through 
closer  acquaintance  with  her  many 
resources,  and  this  State  no  longer 
is  regarded  as  the  home  of  the  sage 
brush,  wild  Indian,  cactus  and  Span- 
ish bayonet  only,  but  is  more  gener- 
ally regarded  as  the  "Land  of  Oppor- 
tunity." 

The  Indians  of  New  Mexico  are  nei- 
ther wild  nor  savage  but  dwell  in  peace 
and  harmony  with  their  white  neigh- 
bors, cultivating  their  fields,  raising 
livestock,  weaving  their  blankets  and 
baskets  as  an  additional  means  of 
revenue,  and  giving  to  the  state  a 
picturesqueness  that  appeals  to  many 
of  the  great  artists  of  the  United 
States  and  the  Old  World,  who  make 
their  temporary  abode  in  New  Mex- 
ico for  the  sole  purpose  of  painting 
these  Indians  in  their  native  habi- 
tat. The  younger  Indian  women,  ed- 
ucated in  vocational  schools,  make 
good  nurses,  stenographers  and  house 
maids,  and  are  exceptionally  kind  to 
children. 

In  many  respects  this  state  must 
appeal  to  the  intelligent  farmer  and 
investor  as  a  homeland  and  a  re- 
gion of  promise.  There  are  irrigated 
and  unirrigated  lands  open  to  occu- 
pation, and  a  great  many  acres  where 
farming  under  the  Campbell  dry- 
farming-  method  may  be  made  a  suc- 
cess, as  amply  proven  in  those  sec- 
tions where  it  has  been  tried.  The 
stockman  already  has  found  the 
ranges  of  New  Mexico  a  veritable 
treasure-house  of  wealth  accumulat- 
ed in  a  short  time. 

Its  delightful  climate  has  given  to 
New  Mexico  the  title  of  "The  Sun- 
shine State,"  for,  though  there  are 
plentiful  rains  and  thunder  showers 
during  the  summer  months,  and 
snow  through  the  winter,  its  per- 
centage of  sunshine  averages  seven- 
fv-<*r-.  and  to  the  health-seeker  its 
climate  is  a  restorative  tonic.  The 


n 

marked  lack  of  humidity  in  the  at- 
mosphere renders  neither  the  cold  of 
winter  nor  the  heat  of  summer  op- 
pressive, and  its  high  altitude  in- 
sures cool  nights  during  the  warm- 
est weather. 

New  Mexico  is  no  longer  the  land 
of  the  pioneer,  but  rather  that  of  the 
farmer  seeking,  a  new  home  or  the 
capitalist  looking  for  a  permanent 
investment.  Investigation  is  invited 
regarding  the  products,  resources  in- 
dustries and  general  conditions  of 
the  state. 

POPULATION. 

In  1900  the  Territory  of  New  Mex- 
ico contained  a  population  of  195,310. 
Ten  years  later  it  had  reached  327,- 
301,  a  remarkable  increase  of  67.6  per 
cent.  Now,  under  statehood  the 
school  census  indicates  a  still  fur- 
ther growth  which  would  bring  the 
present  population  up  to  approxi- 
mately 360,000,  with  a  well  assured 
prospect  of  still  greater  increase  in 
the  1920  enumeration. 

However,  the  population  as  given 
in  this  pamphlet  is  taken  from  the 
1910  census,  in  order  that  it  may  be 
dependable  and  not  over-estimate 
numbers. 

New  settlers  coming  into  New  Mex- 
ico are  principally  from  the  central 
states  and  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
while  many  farmers  from  Kansas  and 
Oklahoma  are  finding  more  attrac- 
tive advantages  inducing  them  to  lo- 
cate in  this  state. 

WEALTH  OF  THE  STATE. 

The  increase  of  wealth  and  pro- 
duction in  the  state  has  kept  pace 
with  the  growth  of  its  population. 
The  assessed  valuation  of  property 
in  New  Mexico  in  1911  was  $64,506,560, 
which  was  on  a  basis  of  one-fourth 
the  appraised  value,  making  a  fair 
estimate  of  the  actual  wealth  of  the 
state  $258,026,240.  The  valuation  of 
1915  is  on  an  assessment  of  the  full 
value  of  the  property,  and  amounts 
to  $305,067,965— according  to  the  re- 
port filed  by  the  Tax  Commission, 


and  this  is  in  no  sense  local,  but  dis- 
tributed throughout  the  whole  state. 
In  some  of  the  newer  sections  the 
increase  has  been  as  high  as  50  per 
cent  a  year. 

FINANCES  AND  TAXATION. 

The  bonded  indebtedness  of  New 
Mexico,  at  the  present  time,  is  $2,- 
000,000,  and  there  is  no  floating  in- 
debtedness. The  statutes  of  the 
state  guard  against  the  incurring  of 
obligations  by  the  counties  beyond 
their  ability  to  meet  them  readily, 
and  the  cities  and  towns  of  the  state 
have  been  conservative  and  cautious 
not  to  make  improvements  that  would 
necessitate  burdensome  taxes  in  or- 
der to  meet  the  payments. 

At  the  time  of  its  admission  into 
the  Union,  the  State  of  New  Mexico 
was  granted  12;000,000  acres  of  Gov- 
ernment land,  the  proceeds  from 
which  were  to  be  used  for  specified 
purposes,  including  the  maintenance 
of  certain  educational  institutions 
throughout  the  state.  This  has  en- 
abled these  institutions  and  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  New  Mexico  to  be  con- 
ducted successfully  with  but  little  aid 
from  general  taxation,  and  the  edu- 
cational, semi-charitable  and  penal 
institutions  of  the  state  are  equipped 
in  a  manner  that  would  do  credit  to 
any  of  the  older  commonwealths,  and, 
with  improvements  that  may  be  nec- 
essary with  increased  growth,  will 
be  adequate  for  many  years  to  come. 

State  taxes,  therefore,  are  not  op- 
pressive, and  under  the  wise  provis- 
ion of  the  Constitution  cannot  be 
made  so.  The  territorial  tax  rate 
for  government  purposes  in  1909  was 
14  mills;  in  1910  it  was  11  mills;  in 
1911,  10  mills,  while  at  the  present 
time,  1916,  it  is  but  3.95  mills.  This 
reduction  was  made  possible  by  the 
increase  in  property  values,  as  well 
as  careful  administration  of  state 
affairs.  With  financial  conditions  in 
the  state  as  they  are,  the  new  comer 
may  rest  assured  that  the  foundation 
is  sound,  and  that  the  danger  of  in- 
creasing taxation  has  been  practical- 
ly eliminated. 


— 9— 
AREA  OF  NEW  MEXICO. 

The  total  area  of  the  State  of  New 
Mexico  is  122,503  square  miles,  or 
approximately  78,401,920  acres.  It 
covers  a  territory  greater  than  all 
the  states  of  New  England  combin- 
ed. A  single  National  Forest  in  this 
state  is  larger  than  both  Delaware 
and  Rhode  Island  together.  Consid- 
ering this  fact  it  may  readily  be  seen 
that  conditions  here  are  not  crowded 
and  that  there  is  plenty  of  room  in 
which  to  expand. 

New  Mexico  is  the  Land  of  Op- 
portunity beckoning  the  homeseek- 
er,  the  permanent  investor  and  the 
capitalist.  But  it  must  not  be  as- 
sumed that  it  offers  immediate  re- 
turns on  any  investment.  No  one 
should  come  here  with  the  idea  that 
a  living  may  be  made  from  the  very 
beginning,  for  that  is  not  possible  in 
any  country.  One  should  have  a 
working  capital  that  would  meet  all 
requirements  for  living  and  improve- 
ments until  productions  are  suffi- 
cient to  supply  the  needs.  Otherwise 
the  results  are  sure  to  be  unsatisfac- 
tory and  may  be  disastrous.  But  to 
the  man  of  average  means,  coupled 
with  an  intelligent  application  of  en- 
ergy, there  are  splendid  opportuni- 
ties in  New  Mexico  for  increasing 
his  wealth.  There  are  many  large 
tracts  still  remaining  open  to  entry 
located  in  the  mountainous  sections 
but  available  for  farming,  while  there 
are  several  million  acres  which  can 
become  available  and  profitable  by 
being  brought  under  irrigation  by 
storage  of  water,  diversion  or  by 
pumping.  Then  there  is  the  dry 
farming  method  which  has  been  am- 
ply proven  in  many  parts  of  the 
state,  and  under  it  some  surprisingly 
profitable  farms  have  been  developed. 

Land  in  New  Mexico  during,  the 
past  two  years  has  been  taken  up 
at  a  very  rapid  rate,  and  it  would 
be  well  for  those  that  may  be  look- 
ing to  the  southwest  for  a  location, 
not  to  delay  their  coming  to  this 
state  too  long.  But  come  and  inves- 
tigate conditions  first,  and  then  bring 
your  family  if  you  decide  to  stay. 


There  are  many  land  grants  in 
New  Mexico,  of  various  kinds  pecul- 
iar to  the  west.  Among  them  are 
some  that  were  made  to  individuals 
and  to  communities  by  the  Spanish 
and  Mexican  governments,  respec- 
tively, and  later  confirmed  by  the 
United  States.  There  are  large  In- 
dian reservations  and  grants  to  Pu- 
eblo Indians;  military  reservations; 
National  Forests  ;  grants  to  railroads  ; 
coal  and  oil  lands  temporarily  with- 
drawn from  entry  by  the  Government, 
and  lands  set  aside  for  school  pur- 
uoses,  but  beside  these  there  yet  re- 
main open  to  the  entryman  a  mu- 
nificent acreage  awaiting  his  coming. 

HOW  TO  ACQUIRE  STATE 
LANDS. 

Among  the  numerous  inquiries 
reaching  the  State  Land  Office,  there 
is  none  more  insistent  than  that 
which  pertains  to  the  preliminary 
proceedings  necessary  to  the  acquir- 
ing of  state  lands  by  purchase,  and 
for  this  reason  the  explanations 
herein  given  are  very  explicit  in  or- 
der that  those  unfamiliar  with  such 
matters  may  be  fully  informed  on  the 
subject. 

In  the  first  place  it  must  be  under- 
stood that  the  twelve  million  acres 
originally  granted  to  the  State  of 
New  Mexico,  to  which  reference  is 
hereinbefore  made  under  the  caption 
"Finances  and  Taxation,"  were  not 
set  aside  in  any  particular  section  of 
the  state,  but  have  been  selected 
from  unoccupied  lands  of  the  U.  S. 
Government,  located  in  the  various 
counties  of  the  state.  The  State  Land 
Office  has  no  complete  list  of  these 
lands  for  distribution,  as  it  is  await- 
ing final  action  by  the  U.  S.  Govern- 
ment on  approximately  three  million 
acres  which  have  not  yet  been  clear 
listed,  (which  is  equivalent  to  a  pat- 
ent) to  the  state. 

Therefore,  the  first  step  necessary 
for  anyone  desiring  to  acquire  state 
lands  in  New  Mexico,  is  to  make  a 
personal  investigation  of  either  the 
entire  state,  some  county,  or  parti- 


cularly  locality,  as  the  case  may  be, 
and  deside  upon  certain  lands  as  de- 
sirable for  investment.  Having  made 
this  personal  investigation,  it  is  ne- 
cessary, if  you  are  not  acquainted 
with  land  descriptions,  to  have  a  good 
surveyor,  or  some  other  competent 
person,  gave  you  the  exact  descrip- 
tion of  the  land  as  to  section,  town- 
ship and  range. 

Having  completed  these  necessary 
details  ,  the  next  course  _  is  to 
come  to,  or  communicate  with  the 
State  Land  Office,  in  the  Capitol 
building  at  Santa  Fe,  and  secure 
regular  blanks,  furnished  free  of 
cost  by  this  office,  upon  which  to 
make  application  to  purchase  the 
land,  and  in  such  application  a  de- 
scription of  the  land  must  be  given 
in  accordance  with  that  made  by  the 
surveyor  employed  to  run  the  lines; 
the  application  must  be  properly 
signed  by  the  applicant  and  sworn 
to  by  him  before  a  notary  public.  It 
must  be  accompanied  by  an  ap- 
praisement of  the  land,  made  by  a 
disinterested  party;  and  also  at  the 
time  of  making  application  the  ap- 
plicant must  deposit  a  sum  sufficient 
to  pay  all  cost  of  advertising  and  ex- 
pense of  holding  sale.  The  amount  of 
cost  varies,  depending  upon  the 
charges  made  by  local  newspapers, 
and  the  distance  from  the  State  Cap- 
ital to  the  county  seat  of  the  county 
in  which  the  lands  are  located,  which 
makes  a  variation  in  traveling  expen- 
ses incident  to  such  sale. 

Again,  if  a  number  of  sales  are 
made,  the  total  expense  of  advertis- 
ing and  holding  sale  is  divided  among 
all  the  purchasers.  Individual  sales 
cost  about  seventy-five  dollars,  but 
where  a  number  of  sales  are  effected 
at  the  same  time  the  expense  is  often 
reduced  to  five  or  ten  dollars  each. 

After  the  application  is  received  by 
the  State  Land  Office,  an  examina- 
tion of  the  land  is  made  for  the  pur- 
pose of  determining  the  accuracy  of 
the  appraisement,  and  also  for  the 
further  purpose  of  ascertaining 
whether  the  sale  of  the  land  so  se- 
lected will  interfere  with  the  sale  of 


—12— 

the  balance  of  the  tract,  providing 
there  is  any  such  balance.  If  every- 
thing is  satisfactory,  notice  is  then 
given  by  publication  that  this  land 
will  be  sold  at  public  auction,  as  re- 
quired by  law. 

This  notice  must  be  published 
for  ten  successive  weeks  in 
one  newspaper  nearest  to  the  land, 
and  in  another  one  at  the  state  capi- 
tal for  the  same  length  of  time,  and 
must  contain  a  full  description  of  the 
land,  as  given  in  the  application  to 
purchase,  together  with  the  day,  hour 
and  place  of  such  public  auction.  Of 
course,  it  is  understood  that  others 
besides  the  applicant  may  bid  on  this 
land  at  the  time  of  sale,  and  in  all 
cases  it  will  be  sold  to  the  highest 
bidder.  The  purchaser  of  the  land  is 
required,  on  the  day  of  such  purchase, 
to  pay  four  per  cent  per  annum 
interest,  one  year  in.  advance,  on  all 
deferred  payments  on  the  land,  and 
one-tenth  of  the  purchase  price.  If 
another  than  the  original  applicant 
for  the  land  should  be  the  purchaser, 
then  the  money  deposited  with  the 
State  Land  Office  to  cover  expenses 
of  sale,  will  be  returned  to  the  orig- 
inal applicant  for  the  land  and  the 
actual  purchaser  will  be  required  to 
pay  such  expenses  of  sale,  including 
publication  of  notice  etc. 

If  he  prefers  to  do  so  the  purchaser 
may  pay  all  cash  for  the  land  at  the 
time  he  buys  it,  or  at  any  later  date, 
and  thus  secure  his  deed  without 
further  delay;  or  he  may  take  pos- 
session of  the  land  under  a  contract 
of  sale  entered  into  between  himself 
and  the  Commissioner  of  Public 
Lands,  the  terms  of  which  require  an 
annual  payment  of  one-thirtieth 
(1-30)  of  the  balance  due  on  the  pur- 
chase price  of  the  land,  and  one 
year's  interest  in  advance,  on  all 
deferred  payments,  at  the  rate  of 
four  per  cent  per  annum,  payable  on 
the  first  day  of  October  of  each  and 
every  year  until  the  whole  sum  is 
paid,  thus  giving  the  purchaser  thirty 
years  in  which  to  complete  his  pay- 
ments, by  simply  paying  yearly  in- 
sallments  of  equal  amounts  and  the 


—13— 

interest  on  all  unpaid  sums.  When 
he  has  completed  these  payments  in 
full  he  will  receive  a  deed  from  the 
state  conveying  an  absolutely  clear 
title  to  the  land. 

During  the  years  pending  final  pay- 
ment on  the  land,  the  purchaser  pays 
taxes  on  his  equity  therein,  and  on  all 
improvements  placed  on  the  land. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  live  on  state 
land  in  order  to  secure  title  to  it, 
as  it  may  be  purchased  either  as  an 
investment  and  left  idle  for  any 
length  of  time,  or  it  may  be  bought 
for  a  home  and  improved,  or  used 
for  grazing  purposes,  whichever  the 
purchaser  desires.  • 

The  least  amount  of  acreage  that 
may  be  purchased  is  forty  acres,  or 
a  fractional  lot  which  sometimes  con- 
tains a  little  less  than  forty  acres, 
but  there  is  no  limit  to  the  largest 
amount  that  any  one  may  purchase 
He  is  at  liberty  to  buy  as  many 
acres  as  he  can  pay  for. 

Lands  lying  east  of  the  line  be- 
tween ranges  eighteen  and  nineteen 
east  of  the  New  Mexico  Principal 
Meridian,  cannot  be  sold  for  less 
than  five  dollars  an  acre,  and  lands 
lying  west  of  that  line  cannot  be 
sold  for  less  than  three  dollars  an 
acre. 

Lands  which  are,  or  may  become 
susceptible  to  irrigation  under  any 
United  States  Government  Reclama- 
tion project,  cannot  be  sold  for  less 
than  twenty-five  dollars  an  acre. 

State  school  lands,  which  include 
sections  2,  16,  32  and  36  in  each  town- 
ship, cannot  be  sold  for  less  than 
ten  dollars  an  acre  unless  they  are 
contiguous  to  other  state  lands,  in 
which  case  they  may  be  sold  for  the 
same  price  obtained  for  such  state 
lands  adjoining!  them. 

LEASING  STATE  LANDS. 

State  lands  are  subject  to  lease  for 
grazing!  or  agricultural  purposes. 
Grazing  lands  are  leased  for  five 
cents  an  acre,  per  annum,  and  agri- 
cultural lands  for  from  ten  to  twenty 
cents  an  acre  yearly,  according  to 
the  location,  quality  and  condition  01 


—14— 

the  lands.  These  rates,  however,  are 
subject  to  change,  but  not  during  the 
life  of  the  lease. 

Leases  are  made  for  five  years, 
subject  to  sale  of  the  land  at  any 
time  during  that  period,  possession 
to  be  given  on  the  first  day  of  Oc- 
tober following  the  date  of  such  sale 

In  order  to  secure  state  lands  for 
leasing,  the  same  preliminary  proced- 
ure is  necessary  as  required  in  mak- 
ing selection  of  lands  for  purchase 
The  applicant  must  first  make  his  se- 
lection, have  it  surveyed  and  apprais- 
ed, and  then  make  application  to  the 
State  Land  Office,  which  will  have 
the  larfti  inspected,  and,  if  passed  as 
satisfactory,  a  lease  may  be  made  to 
the  parties  applying  for  the  same, 
and  they  may  enter  into  immediate 
possession  of  the  land. 

Practically  all  the  large  tracts  of 
land  are  leased  but  vacant  school  sec* 
tions  can  be  found  in  every  county  in 
the  State. 

All  leased  state  lands  may  be  sold 
at  any  time,  upon  application,  and 
the  lessees  have  the  same  right  to 
bid  on  them  at  public  auction,  as  any 
one  else.  If  improvements  are  on 
such  leased  lands  at  the  time  of  sale, 
they  are  appraised  when  the  land  is 
offered  for  sale,  and  the  buyer  of 
the  land  must  pay  the  cash  value  of 
such  improvements  to  the  owner 
thereof,  at  the  time  the  sale  is  con- 
summated. 

No  expenses  are  attached  to  ap- 
plications to  lease  state  lands. 

HOW  TO   ACQUIRE   GOVERN- 
MENT LANDS  IN  NEW 
MEXICO. 

Besides  8,304,546  acres  of  unsurvey- 
ed  public  lands  in  New  Mexico,  there 
are  19,483,811  acres  of  Government 
lands  in  the  state  already  surveyed 
and  subject  to  homestead.  These 
lands  lie  adjacent  to  state  lands,  and 
those  desiring  to  purchase  state 
lands  may  also  file  on  a  homestead 
contiguous  to  the  same,  if  they 
choose  and  have  not  already  used 
the  right  of  homesteading. 

Any  man  who  has  not  already  ex- 


—15— 

ercised  his  right  of  homesteading  can 
file  on  a  homestead  of  160  acres  ;  or. 
if  he  prefers  to  file  under  the  "En- 
larged Homestead  Act,"  he  can  se- 
cure 320  acres  of  land  which  must 
be  desert  in  character ;  in  addition 
to  this  320  acre  homestead,  he  also 
can  make  a  desert  filing!  on  160  acres, 
and  his  wife,  too,  has  the  privilege 
of  filing  on  320  acres  of  desert  land 
under  certain  conditions  specified  in 
the  Act  referred  to.  These  lands 
available  under  this  Act  are  all  de- 
signated by  the  General  Land  Office, 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  full  infor- 
mation concerning)  them  may  be  ob- 
tained at  the  local  United  States 
Land  Office,  where  application  should 
be  made. 

While  the  State  Land  Office  does 
not  make  any  attempt  to  locate  any 
one  on  public  lands,  it  is  able  and 
willing  to  render  assistance  in  mak- 
ing selections,  and  can  give  general 
information  as  to  what  character  of 
land  may  be  found  in  various  local- 
ities throughout  the  state.  There- 
fore, if  any  one  is  desirous  of  pur- 
chasing state  lands  it  would  be  well 
to  inquire  at  this  office  before  in- 
curring expenses  which  might  be  un- 
necessary. 


LOCAL  UNITED  STATES  LAND 
OFFICES. 

Local  United   States   Land  Offices, 
and  the  counties  in  which  land  over 
which   they   have   jurisdiction     is   lo- 
cated, are  as  follows: 
Clayton,  Union  County, 
has  jurisdiction  over  lands  in   Col- 
fax,   Mora,   Quay,    San   Miguel   and 
Union  counties. 

Fort  Sumner,  Guadalupe  County, 
has      jurisdiction      over     lands      in 
Chaves,   Curry,   Guadalupe,   Lincoln 
and  Roosevelt  counties. 
Las  Cruces,  Dona  Ana  County, 
has  jurisdiction  over  lands  in  Dona 
Ana,  Grant,  Luna,  Otero,  Sierra  and 
Socorro    counties. 
Roswell,  Chaves  County, 
has     jurisdiction      over     lands     in 


—16— 

Chaves,  Eddy,  Lincoln,  Otero,  So- 
corro  and  Torrance  counties. 

Santa  Fe,  Santa  Fe  County, 
has  jurisdiction  over  lands  in  Ber- 
nalillo,  Colfax,  Guadalupe.  McKin- 
ley,  Mora,  Rio  Arriba,  Sandoval, 
San  Juan,  San  Miguel,  Santa  Fe, 
Socorro,  Taos,  Torrance  and  Val- 
encia counties. 

Tucumcari,  Quay  County, 

has  jurisdiction  over  lands  in  Cur- 
ry, Guadalupe,  Quay,  San  Miguel 
and  Union  counties. 

SYSTEMS   OF   LAND  DEVEL- 
OPMENT. 

Well  defined  systems  of  land  de- 
velopment are  being  devised  in  all 
sections  of  New  Mexico,  and  new 
projects  building,  but  there  are  many 
yet  untouched  which  offer  fine  op- 
portunities. Old  ditches  are  being 
remodeled  and  extended;  modern 
methods  employed  to  get  the  most 
benefit  out  of  every  gallon  of  water 
used.  Dry  farming,  so-called,  which 
really  means  production  without  ir- 
rigation, has  brought  under  cultiva- 
tion large  tracts  of  land  and  the  re- 
sults, as  a  rule,  have  been  eminently 
satisfactory.  The  eastern  and  north- 
eastern parts  of  New  Mexico  are 
more  largely  given  over  to  this 
method  of  farming,  as  flowing 
streams  are  not  so  numerous  there 
as  in  other  portions  of  the  state. 

Irrigation  in  this  state,  until  re- 
cent years,  has  been  of  a  primitive 
character  and  was  carried  on  by 
those  dwelling  here  centuries  ago, 
as  evidenced  by  remains  of  ancient 
ditches,  but  the  magnitude  and  pos- 
sibilities of  the  system  are  not  gen- 
erally realized,  and  even  yet  the  real 
irrigation  systems  of  New  Mexico 
are  in  their  infancy,  though  certain 
sections  have  them  well  developed. 

Only  a  few  years  ago  there  were 
approximately  but  50,000  acres  avail- 
able for  irrigation ;  now  there  are 
not  less  than  6,000,000  acres,  and  it 
it  is  plain  to  see  what  this  indicates 
to  those  desiring  to  enter  the  new 
field  and  test  its  possibilities;  it 
means  the  providing  of  homes  for 


17 

thousands  of  people.  Applications 
for  water  rights,  during  the  past 
three  years,  have  reached  a  total  of 
1,100,  and  while  these  filings  have 
not  and  may  not  be  actually  devel- 
oped, it  shows  the  present  tendency. 

Irrigation  by  pumping  has  proven 
successful  in  certain  sections  of  the 
state,  including  splendid  results  ob- 
tained in  the  Mimbres  Valley,  in  Lu- 
na County,  and  also  in  Roosevelt 
County,  while  the  Rio  Grande  and 
Alamogordo  valleys  are  extremely 
promising.  Many  of  the  artesian 
wells  of  Chaves  and  Eddy  counties 
furnish  water  for  irrigation,  although 
some  are  not  available  for  that  pur- 
pose owing  to  the  presence  of  alkali. 
In  Chaves  County  an  electric  pump- 
ing system  has  been  established 
along  the  Berrendo  River,  near  Ros- 
well,  irrigating  lands  hitherto  unwa- 
lered,  the  electric  plant  at  Roswell 
furnishing  the  nower. 

Aside  from  all  these  are  numerous 
small  water  supplies  which  could  be 
utilized  by  storage  of  flood  waters 
in  the  mountain  canons,  which  would 
reclaim  a  large  area,  but  which  have 
not  been  included  in  the  estimate  of 
irrigable  lands.  These  offer  an  at- 
tractive opportunity  for  the  small  in- 
vestor and  are  worthy  of  a  thorough 
investigation. 

GOVERNMENT       IRRIGATION 
PROJECTS. 

Government  irrigation  projects 
have  been  established  in  New  Mex- 
ico under  the  United  States  Recla- 
mation Service,  the  largest  of  which 
is  the  Elephant  Butte  dam,  in  Sierra 
County.  This  is  the  greatest  arti- 
ficial reservoir  in  the  world,  and 
when  completed  it  is  estimated  that 
it  will  have  cost  the  government  not 
less  than  $10,000,000.  By  this  project 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande  are  con- 
served in  a  lake  forty  miles  Ions:, 
with  a  storage  capacity  of  2,630,000 
acre  feet  at  the  spillway  elevation  of 
4,407  feet.  It  will  require  another 
two  years'  time  from  January,  1916, 
to  complete  this  project,  but  mean- 
while one-half  of  the  total  number 


—18- 

of  acres  in  the  rich  Mesilla  Valley 
of  Dona  Ana  County  are  being  sup- 
plied with  water  through  the  medium 
of  diversion  dams,  and  when  finished 
the  Elephant  Butte  dam  will  furnish 
water  for  irrigating  180,000  acres  of 
productive  lands,  110,000  of  which  are 
in  New  Mexico. 

Another  Government  enterprise 
now  completed  is  the  Carlsbad  Irriga- 
tion Project,  near  Carlsbad  in  Eddy 
County,  which  has  reclaimed  24,500 
acres  of  fertile  land,  and  it  is  the 
intention  to  further  extend  it.  Also 
there  are  several  Government  irri- 
gation systems  in  operation  on  the 
various  Indian  Reservations  in  New 
Mexico,  notably,  at  the  Zuni  and  the 
San  Juan  Agencies,  as  well  as  at 
some  of  the  Indian  Pueblos.  There 
are  now  several  projects  under  con- 
sideration to  be  established  through 
the  working  of  the  Carey  Act,  which 
was  extended  to  New  Mexico  in  1909, 
and  which  is  administered  by  a  State 
board  with  the  State  Engineer  as  ex- 
ecutive officer. 

Also  there  is  in  operation  in  this 
State  a  district  irrigation  law,  en- 
acted by  the  Legislature  of  1909,  un- 
der which  a  community  of  land  own- 
ers may  associate  themselves  to- 
gether for  the  purpose  of  bonding 
their  lands  to  secure  funds  with 
which  to  construct  necessary  works 
in  a  local  irrigation  district.  This 
method  has  been  tried  in  several 
counties  of  New  Mexico,  San  Juan 
and  San  Miguel  Counties  being  the 
first  to  take  advantage  of  it,  and  it 
has  proved  very  satisfactory. 

PRICES   OF   IRRIGATED 
LANDS. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  accurate  in- 
formation on  the  price  of  lands  un- 
der irrigation,  as  much  depends  up- 
on the  location,  improvements  and 
method  of  irrigation,  all  of  which 
vary  to  a  great  extent,  while  the  dif- 
ferent projects  are  too  extensive  to 
particularize  regarding  them.  An- 
other element  to  be  considered  in 
fixing  prices  of  such  lands  is  the 


—19— 

nearness  to  market,  as  well  as  the 
character  of  soil  and  the  condition  of 
the  water  rights.  However,  in  a  gen- 
eral way,  raw  lands  range  from  $25  to 
$75  an  acre.  Cultivated  lands  under  ir- 
rigation bring  from  $40  to  $300  an 
acre;  those  with  bearing  orchards 
from  $300  to  $1,000  an  acre,  while 
lands  subject  to  irrigation  by  pump- 
ing, with  water  undeveloped,  sell  for 
$15  to  $50  an  acre. 

There  is  such  a  varied  assortment 
of  irrigated  lands  in  the  state  that 
it  would  not  be  difficult  to  suit  those 
desiring  to  purchase.  Generally 
speaking,  the  lands  sold  under  irri- 
gation projects  ca~  be  secured  on 
easy  terms.  The  ..ater  rights  in- 
variably are  incontestable,  as  the 
state  is  very  cautious  in-  ga  Anting 
rights  to  appropriate  waters ;  only 
bona  fide  investors  prepared  to  car- 
ry out  their  construction  plans  being 
able  to»  obtain  such  rights. 

Lands  are  being  taken  up  s'o  rap- 
idly and  their  development  is  so  con- 
stant, that  the  time  of  what  may  be 
called  cheap  lands  in  New  Mexico 
is  rapidly  passing.  The  highly  cul- 
tivated small  farm  in  this  state  can 
be  made  to  pay  for  itself,  and  bring 
a  good  living  to  its  owner. 

MINERALS  OF  NEW  MEXICO. 

The  principal  minerals  found  in 
New  Mexico,  in  point  of  production, 
are  copper  and  coal,  with  gold,  sil- 
ver, lead,  zinc,  turquoise  and  gyp- 
sum following.  The  output  of  the 
mines  of  this  State  for  1915,  accord- 
ing to  the  report  of  the  United  States 
Geological  Survey,  indicated  a  yield 
of  $1,500,000  in  gold;  2,032,000  ounces 
of  silver;  24,640,000  pounds  of  zinc; 
3,951,000  pounds  of  lead  and  72,000,000 
pounds  of  copper,  while  the  produc- 
tion of  coal  as  given  in  the  annual 
report  of  the  State  Mine  Inspector 
for  1915,  amounted  to  3,858,554  tons, 
with  an  approximate  value  of  $5  616,- 
550.  Of  this  amount  of  coal  38,616 
tons  were  pure  anthracite,  which  is 
found  in  this  state  only  in  the  Cerril- 
los  coal  fields  in  Santa  Fe  County.  In 
addition  to  this  estimate  of  the  coal 


-20- 

production  must  be  counted  29,806 
tons  consumed  in  operating  the  dif- 
ferent mines  of  the  state,  and  729,- 
456  tons  used  in  making  364,873  tons 
of  coke  with  an  approximate  value 
of  $1,199,776. 

These  figures  will  convey  some 
idea  of  the  importance  of  the  min- 
eral resources  of.  New  Mexico,  but 
in  addition  to  those  above  mentioned 
there  are  deposits  of  salt,  sulphur, 
graphite,  iron  ores,  alum,  manganese, 
mica,  tungsten  and  even  meerchaum, 
the  latter  having  been  found  only  in 
Asia  Minor,  in  paying  quantities,  until 
discovered  in  this  state.  Since  the 
discovery  of  tungsten  in  New  Mex- 
ico, only  a  short  time  ago,  the  ship- 
ments of  this  valuable  ore  have  been 
almost  phenomenal,  eastern  markets 
sending  "rush"  orders  and  paying  as 
high  as  $2.50  a  pound  for  it. 

The  turquoise  mines  of  New  Mex- 
ico have  a  national  reputation,  Tiffa- 
ny's jewelry  house  in  New  Yerk  de- 
pending almost  entirely  on  the  stones 
from  this  state  for  all  turquoise  used 
in  its  business,  and  those  of  New 
Mexico  are  rated  in  beauty  and 
quality  but  little  less  than  the  fa- 
mous gem-stones  of  Persia,  accord- 
ing to  official  statements  based  on 
an  analysis  of  the  two  products. 

Marble  has  been  found  in  paying 
quantities,  and  petroleum  is  just  now 
coming  into  prominence  as  one  of 
the  mineral  resources  of  this  state, 
and  taken  as  a  whole,  New  Mexico 
offers  a  splendid  field  for  the  enter- 
prising prospector. 

PRODUCTION  AND  MARKETS. 

In  point  of  productiveness,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  acres  cul- 
tivated, New  Mexico  ranks  high.  Ac- 
cording to  Government  statistics  for 
1915  the  crops  of  this  state  amounted 
to  the  following  figures  :  Corn,  2,730,- 
000  bushels,  at  an  average  market 
price  of  73  cents  per  bushel.  Pota- 
toes, 800,000  bushels,  at  95  cents  per 
bushel.  Sweet  potatoes.  92.000  bush- 
els, at  97  cents  per  bushel.  Apples, 
276,000  barrels.  Pears,  60,000  bushels. 


—21— 

Wheat  2,156,000  bushels,  at  91  cents 
per  bushel,  and  oats,  2,160000  bush- 
els, at  34  cents  per  bushel. 

These  statistics  do  not  include  kaf- 
fir  corn,  milo  maize,  feterita,  broom 
corn  and  several  other  important 
crops  that  would  swell  the  amount 
of  production  in  this  state  very  ma- 
terially, had  they  been  reported. 
However,  the  above  figures  will  con- 
vey a  better  idea  than  words  con- 
cerning the  productiveness  of  t'tis 
state.  In  addition  to  the  crops 
mentioned,  all  kinds  of  melons  and 
garden  'nick  raised  in  the  fertile 
soil  of  New  Mexico,  under  irrigation, 
produce  enormous  results.  Every 
kind  of  fruit  grown  in  the  temperate 
zone  flourishes  in  this  state.  Of 
course,  citrus  fruits  cannot  be  raised 
in  this  climate  as  they  require  a 
greater  degree  of  heat  and  humidity 
than  are  found  in  this  state,  but  the 
ordinary  fruits  of  the  orchard,  si. oh 
as  apples,  pears,  peaches,  plums,  ap- 
ricots, grapes  and  fruit  of  this  class 
are  unsurpassed,  while  berries  of  all 
kinds  arc  always  dependable,  and 
fruits  grown  in  New  Mexico  attain 
an  unusual  degree  of  perfection  in 
flavor  and  color  because  of  the  great 
amount  of  sunshine  under  which  they 
mature. 

Alfalfa  and  all  kinds  of  cereals  are 
crops  that  thrive  especially  well  in 
this  state,  and  broom  corn  is  raised 
very  successfully  wherever  planted. 

The  problem  of  markets,  however, 
is  one  of  more  than  passing  interest, 
appealing  alike  to  the  producer  and 
to  the  consumer.  More  than  half  the 
eggs  and  three-fourths  of  the  but- 
ter used  in  New  Mexico  are  import- 
ed, while  other  food-stuffs  in  simi- 
lar proportions  are  shipped  into  the 
state  from  outside  points,  therefore 
the  chance  for  the  farmer  to  market 
his  products  appears  remarkably 
good,  but  the  distances  between  hab- 
itations in  this  state  are  much 
greater  than  in  more  congested 
places,  and  before  deciding  upon  a 
location  for  a  home  it  would  be  well 
to  take  into  consideration  the  avail- 
ability of  markets. 


—22- 

The  increasing  number  of  new  min- 
ing camps  throughout  the  state,  as 
well  as  those  already  operating,  of- 
fer good  markets  for  farm  produce 
of  all  kinds. 

The  crops  of  New  Mexico,  of  what- 
ever kind,  command  good  prices  in 
the  outside  markets.  Alfalfa  is  ship- 
ped to  eastern  and  southern  points, 
bringing  excellent  returns,  while 
peaches  and  apples,  always  a  sta- 
ple crop  in  this  state,  bring  fan- 
cy prices  in  the  markets  of  New 
York  and  the  middle  west.  Melons 
raised  in  this  state  are  bought  by  the 
railroad  lines  for  their  dining  cars 
and  eating  houses,  the  demand  tak- 
ing a  greater  part  of  the  supply. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  a  matured 
fruit  orchard  in  this  state  recently 
sold  for  $10,000,  at  the  rate  of  $500 
an  acre,  and  the  following  year  the 
crop  on  the  trees  brough  $9,000.  Raw 
land  in  districts  where  such  results 
were  obtained,  with  equally  good 
market  facilities  and  water  rights 
just  as  reliable,  can  now  be  bought 
for  $30  to  $100  an  acre,  requiring  only 
development  to  make  the  land  fully 
as  productive.  It  is  a  condition  that, 
manifestly,  cannot  last  long  in  this 
state,  and  one  that  does  not  exist 
in  any  other  developed  irrigation  re- 
gion in  the  west.  Land  in  New  Mex- 
ico, at  present  prices,  affords  an  in- 
vestment with  only  a  slight  element 
of  risk  and  with  certainty  of  reason- 
ably speedy  returns.  But  it  must  not 
be  forgotten  that,  in  New  Mexico  as 
anywhere  else,  a  working  capital  is 
necessary  to  defray  expenses  of  im- 
provements and  living  until  the  land 
can  be  brought  up  to  a  production 
that  will  be  sufficient  for  all  needs. 

Tomatoes  and  beans  are  other 
crops  not  reported  by  Government 
statistics,  which  are  especially  de- 
pendable in  New  Mexico.  In  Mora 
County  during  1915,  on  land  bought 
for  $10  an  acre,  from  fifteen  acres 
cultivated,  12,520  pounds  of  beans 
were  harvested,  which  sold  for  $3.40 
per  hundred  pounds.  On  four  acres 
of  irrigated  land  in  Colfax  County 
an  average  of  1,160  pounds  to  the 


—23— 

acre  were  produced.  In  Torrance 
County  it  is  estimated  that  the  bean 
crop  for  1915  brought  into  that  coun- 
ty the  sum  of  $75,000,  and  the  demand 
for  New  Mexico  beans  constantly  is 
on  the  increase  and  they  give  prom- 
ise of  becoming  one  of  the  most  prof- 
itable products  of  the  state. 

Tomatoes  grown  in  New  Mexico 
are  among  the  more  profitable  of 
the  state's  marketable  commodities. 
In  Eddy  County  during  1915,  one 
farmer  sold  $167  worth  of  tomatoes 
from  one  acre  of  land,  and  had  still 
more  to  market.  In  Lakewood,  Ed- 
dy County,  there  is  an  extensive  can- 
nery and  the  tomatoes  of  New  Mex- 
ico are  especially  well  adapted  to 
canning,  having  a  fine  flavor  and 
solid  meat.  The  demand  for  this 
product  is  increasing  and  offers  an 
opening  to  farmers.  At  Hondale,  in 
Luna  County,  another  cannery  is  in 
operation  with  very  successful  re- 
sults. Canneries  afford  good  mar- 
kets to  dispose  of  farm  produce  and 
if  more  were  established  throughout 
the  state  they  would  encourage 
greater  production.  This  offers  an 
opening  for  enterprising  capitalists 
seeking  new  fields  for  investment. 

THE  DAIRY  INDUSTRY. 

The  dairy  industry  in  New  Mexico 
has  developed  principally  within 
the  past  two  years,  or  since  1913, 
and  as  a  consequence  creameries  are 
being  established  rapidly  and  suc- 
cessfully in  various  sections  of  the 
state,  and  the  farmer  finds  therein 
another  market  for  his  produce,  es- 
pecially butter  fats. 

The  central  and  northern  parts  of 
the  state  are  best  adapted  to  the 
purposes  of  dairying,  especially  in 
the  making^  of  cheese,  and  the  day  is 
not  distant  when  the  consumption 
of  this  staple  article  will  be  wholly 
from  home  manufactured  goods. 

The  successful  dairyman  has  found 
that  much  of  his  succcess  depends 
upon  raising  his  own  feed  for  the 
stock,  which  does  not  require  a  large 
acreage  if  judiciously  planted.  Food 


—24- 

crops  in  New  Mexico  become  more 
prolific  as  the  methods  of  pro- 
duction are  better  understood.  There 
was  a  time  when  milo  maize,  kaffir 
corn,  feterita  and  their  kindred  grains 
were  but  little  known  or  appreciated, 
now  they  are  recognized  as  invalua- 
ble on  the  farm  or  dairy,  and  the 
ease  of  their  production  adds  to  their 
value.  Alfalfa  always  is  a  stand-by 
on  the  farm  or  dairy,  and  in  consid- 
ering products  of  the  farm  those 
of  the  dairy  should  be  taken  into 
account,  for  it  really  is  an  important 
adjunct  to  the  large  farm. 

Another  factor  in  farming  or  dairy- 
ing that  has  attained  prominence  in 
this  state,  and  which  reduces  the 
cost  of  winter  feeding  very  mate- 
rially, is  the  silo.  One  of  its  many 
advantages  consists  in  utilizing  much 
material  on  the  farm  that  usually 
has  been  considered  waste  product, 
but  of  course  a  better  quality  of  si- 
lage is  obtained  by  growing  crops 
especially  for  that  purpose  and  cat- 
tle and  sheep  thrive  on  this  feed, 
while  other  kinds  of  stock  can  be 
successfully  fed  with  it. 

LIVE  STOCK. 

There  is  not  a  county  in  the  entire 
State  of  New  Mexico  that  is  not 
adapted  to  stock-raising,  and,  accord- 
ing to  reports  for  the  past  three 
years  of  1913,  1914  and  1915,  the  pub- 
lic domain  is  accommodating  more 
than  a  million  cattle  and  over  four 
million  sheep,  while  half  a  million 
goats  graze  on  these  ranges.  Hog- 
raising  is  another  industry  that  has 
grown  rapidly  during  the  last  few 
years,  proving  profitable  and  giving 
promise  of  becoming  one  of  the  more 
important  industries  of  the  state. 

Cattle  of  the  New  Mexico  ranges 
are  bred  principally  from  the  White- 
face  Hereford  and  are  among  the 
finest  and  healthiest  in  the  world. 
There  are  other  breeds  also,  such  as 
the  Polled  Angus,  Polled  Hereford 
and  Durham,  the  Herefords  being 
raised  chiefly  for  beef  cattle.  Here- 
ford calves,  during  the  years  of  1914 
and  1915,  sold  for  $30  a  head. 


—25— 

Sheep  are  bred  up  from  all  the  finer 
stock  of  eastern  states  and  Europe. 
The  high  grade  wool  sheep  prodnce 
smaller  lambs  than  the  coarser 
breeds,  but  the  crossing  of  the  na- 
nve  sheep  with  the  finer  grades 
gives  a  large  body  with  finer  tex- 
tures of  wool,  and  this  wool  is  es- 
pecially adapted  to  the  weaving  of 
Navajo  Indian  blankets,  as  demon- 
strated on  the  San  Juan  Reservation  ; 
and  the  sheep  is  a  ready  seller  for 
mutton.  Lambs  from  New  Mexico 
known  as  "Feeding  lambs,"  brought 
as  high  as  five  dollars  a  head  during 
1915.  These  were  shipped  to  Colo- 
rado, Nebraska  and  Kansas  points 
near  packing  house  markets.  The 
northern  and  eastern  stock  feeder 
thoroughly  appreciates  the  value  of 
New  Mexico  sheep  and  cattle  for 
feeding  purposes,  and  is  a  ready 
buyer. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  sheep  indus- 
try New  Mexico  ranks  third  in  the 
United  States  in  the  production  of 
wool,  and  according  to  the  Annual 
Report  of  the  Sheep  Sanitary  Board 
for  1915,  during)  that  year  there  were 
shipped  out  of  this  state  from  va- 
rious points  the  immense  number  of 
1,219,762  sheep. 

Cattle  shipments,  during  1915,  ac- 
cording to  the  report  of  the  Cattle 
Sanitary  Board,  amounted  to  approx- 
imately 285,325  head  of  those  raised 
in  the  state.  About  25,000  head  of 
these  were  shipped  to  markets  in  the 
state,  and  approximately  75,000  head 
were  shipped  into  this  state  from 
Old  Mexico,  thence  re-shipped  to 
markets  outside  this  state,  making  a 
grand  total  of  360,325  head  of  cattle 
that  were  shipped  from  points  in 
this  state  in  1915. 

The  shipment  of  horses  was  less 
than  in  former  years,  amounting  to 
but  7,949  head  for  1915,  but  there 
were  four  thousand  new  brands  re- 
corded in  the  state  during  that  year, 
making  a  total  of  29,000  brands  of 
record  in  New  Mexico  at  the  end  of 
1915. 

These  statistics  will  convey  some 
idea  of  the  importance  of  the  live- 


—26- 

stock  industry  in  this  state,  despite 
the  encroachment  of  the  farmer  on 
the  ranges.  The  immense  packing 
houses  of  Kansas  City  and  Chicago 
are  constantly  drawing  on  the  herds 
of  New  Mexico  for  their  supplies,  and 
recently  a  corporation  has  been  or- 
ganized with  a  view  of  establishing 
a  packing  house  in  this  stete.  It  cer- 
tainly will  supply  a  crying  need,  as 
nearly  all  of  the  meat  consumed  in 
New  Mexico  is  shipped  back  into  the 
state  from  outside  markets,  after 
having  been  raised  on  New  Mexico 
ranges  and  shipped  out  to  the  same 
markets.  A  packing  house  in  Colfax 
County,  with  a  limited  capacity,  sup- 
plies the.  local  demand  in  that  vicin- 
ity. 

WATER  SHEDS  AND  GAME 
PRESERVES. 

The  great  range  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  extends  its  chain  into 
New  Mexico  in  somewhat  broken 
links,  forming  a  water  shed  for  the 
plains  between,  and  affording!  un- 
surpassed game  preserves.  Its  lofty 
peaks  lift  their  heads  above  sea  level 
to  a  height  of  more  than  twelve 
thousand  feet,  overlooking  deep  and 
rugged  canons  through  which  rush 
and  tumble  swiftly  running  streams, 
fed  from  the  snows  of  winter  until 
late  in  the  summer  and  supplying  the 
lower  valleys  with  an  abundance  of 
cold,  pure  water.  During  the  sum- 
mer rains  these  mountain  streams 
sometimes  become  veritable  torrents, 
and  their  great  volume  of  water  is  a 
tremendous  industrial  force  that 
some  day  will  speed  the  wheels  of 
factories  throughout  the  state  and 
furnish  electric  power  for  light  and 
transportation. 

There  is  no  more  beautiful  scenery 
in  all  the  world  than  may  be  found 
in  these  Rocky  Mountain  regions  of 
New  Mexico,  and  they  form  one  of 
the  most  attractive  features  of  the 
state  for  tourist  and  sportsman.  In 
these  mountain  fastnesses  wild  game 
abounds,  the  deer  being  carefully 


—27— 

protected  under  the  state  game  laws, 
while  the  open  season  on  bear  and 
other  predatory  animals  offers  sport 
for  the  hunter  at  any  time  of  year. 
Wild  turkeys  and  grouse  also  are 
found  in  these  mountains,  while  on 
the  plains  quail  and  doves  are  plen- 
tiful and  the  inland  lakes  harbor 
great  flocks  of  wild  ducks,  all  pro- 
tected under  the  wise  provisions  of 
our  state  game  laws.  The  mountain 
streams  are  well  stocked  with  fish 
from  Government  hatcheries,  which 
insures  an  ever  increasing  supply  and 
affords  ample  sport  to  the  devotees 
of  hook  and  line  during  the  open 
season,  as  well  as  opportunities  for  a 
taste  of  camp  life. 

During  the  year  of  1915  a  total 
number  of  500,000  young  fish  were 
planted  in  the  streams  of  New  Mex- 
ico. 

CLIMATE  AND  HEALTH. 

No  climate  can  rival  that  of  New 
Mexico  for  those  suffering  from 
throat  and  lung  diseases.  In  its  early 
stages  tuberculosis  can  be  absolute- 
ly cured  in  this  dry,  pure  atmos- 
phere, and  even  its  later  develop- 
ments may  be  arrested,  if  the  patient 
will  but  observe  careful  attention  to 
habits  and  diet  in  order  to  assist  in 
his  recovery  in  every  way  possible. 
At  this  high  altitude,  which  aver- 
ages 5,500  feet  above  sea  level,  New 
Mexico  is  not  the  most  desirable 
place  for  those  afflicted  with  heart 
disease,  but  for  almost  all  other  dis- 
eases it  has  a  panacea  in  its  incom- 
parable climate,  or  in  its  many  natur- 
al mineral  springs,  some  of  which 
are  known  to  have  effected  most 
wonderful  cures  for  ailments  pecul- 
iar to  mankind  which  are  regarded 
as  beyond  medical  skill.  The  cura- 
tive powers  of  the  waters  and  the 
hot  mud  of  these  springs  are  not  yet 
generally  known,  even  within  the 
borders  of  the  state  itself,  but  when 
they  become  better  known  through- 
out the  world  they  will  rival  the 
baths  of  Europe.  Many  are  not  suit- 
ably developed  as  yet,  so  far  as  ac- 


—28— 

commodations  and  transportation  are 
concerned,  but  where  nature  has  done 
so  much  it  only  remains  for  man  to 
do  his  part  to  make  these  mineral 
springs  of  New  Mexico  one  of  the 
state's  greatest  assets. 

New  Mexico  may  indeed  be  regard- 
ed as  the  nation's  sanatorium.  The 
United  States  Marine  Hospital  and 
the  United  States  Army  Hospital, 
both  for  tubercular  patients,  are  lo- 
cated in  this  state,  while  there  are 
innumerable  sanatoriums  throughout 
the  state  where  patients  from  all 
parts  of  the  world  seek  recuperation 
of  impaired  health,  and  find  it  in  this 
invigorating  climate. 

The  following  summary,  given  by 
the  United  States  Weather  Bureau, 
covering  the  state  of  New  Mexico,  is 
the  climate's  best  indorsement: 

"The  climate  of  New  Mexico  is 
classed  as  dry,  mild  and  sunshiny,  and 
generally  invigorating,  unsurpassed 
for  healthfulness  and  comfort.  The 
warm  southern  valleys  have  an  aver- 
age annual  temperature  of  above 
60°;  the  central  valleys  56°,  and  the 
higher  plateau  country,  46°  to  48°. 
For  the  state  as  a  whole  winter  av- 
erages 35°;  spring,  52°;  summer,  71° 
and  autumn,  54°,  making  53°  for  the 
year.  The  greater  part  of  the  state 
is  exceptionally  free  from  extremes 
of  heat  or  cold. 

"The  average  annual  precipitation 
is  about  14  inches,  but  varies  greatly 
according  to  location  and  altitude. 
The  so-called  'rainy  season'  occurs 
irom  about  the  middle  of  June  to  the 
middle  of  September,  but  the  months 
from  May  to  October,  inclusive,  re- 
ceive over  70  per  cent  of  the  annual 
precipitation.  The  lower  valleys  and 
lower  plateau  regions  have  less  than 
15  inches  a  year,  while  the  eastern 
plains  districts,  higher  plateaus  and 
mountain  districts  have  from  15  to 
20  inches,  or  more.  The  mountains 
thus  form  vast  natural  reservoirs 
from  which  flow  the  streams  that 
afford  irrigation  for  the  fertile  mesa 
and  valley  lands. 

"Much  sunshine  occurs  and  there 
are  few  cloudy  days — about  52  in  a 


—29- 
year;  thus  the  sunshine  averages 
above  76%  of  the  possible  amount. 
The  spring  months  are  sometimes 
windy,  but,  as  a  rule  the  summer,  fall 
and  winter  are  practically  free  from 
high  winds,  and  destructive  storms 
do  not  occur. 

"Successful  years  have  been  experi- 
enced by  the  state  since  1910.  The 
average  precipitation  for  1911  was 
17.92  inches;  for  1912,  13.92  inches; 
for  1913,  15.36  inches;  for  1914  19.45 
inches,  and  for  1915,  to  include  the 
month  of  October,  16.63  inches.  These 
years  have  averaged  slightly  below 
the  normal  temperature,  but  have,  as 
a  rule  had  long.,  successful  seasons." 

TOURIST  ATTRACTIONS. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  find  in  any 
other  state  in  the  Union  as  many  and 
as  varied  attractions  to  the  tourist 
as  are  found  in  New  Mexico.  Yet 
for  years  the  American  tourist  has 
been  going  abroad  for  his  sight-see- 
ing trips,  ignorant  of  the  grandeur, 
the  beauty  and  the  historic  interescs 
of  his  own  country. 

Now  that  he  is  temporarily  debarred 
from  European  excursions  he  should 
turn  his  attention  to  this  land  of  an- 
tiquities, where  may  be  seen  ancient 
ruins  cf  pre-historlc  towns,  buried 
beneath  centuries  of  dust  and  only 
excavated  within  comparatively  re- 
cent years  under  the  personal  direc- 
tion of  some  of  the  leading  students 
of  archaeology. 

The  School  of  American  Archaeol- 
ogy has  a  branch  at  Santa  Fe,  the 
state  capital,  and  the  special  work  of 
this  particular  branch  is  to  make  a 
study  of  these  ancient  ruins  scattered 
throughout  central  and  western  New 
Viexico,  wh'-re  still  may  be  seen  evi- 
dences of  a  once  vast  population  of 
which  nothing  definite  is  known,  ex- 
cept that  they  lived,  loved  and  dieJ. 

The  numerous  Indian  Pueblos  of 
New  Mexico  are  another  attraction 
to  the  tourist  that  puzzle  students  of 
ancient  history,  for  while  some  of 
these  pueblos  are  so  ancient  that  the 
historian  can  shed  no  light  on  their 


—30— 

origin  they  are  still  peopled  by  d*- 
scendants  of  those  who  built  them, 
and  so  far  as  known,  these  descend- 
ants speak  the  same  language,  dress 
in  similar  costumes  and  in  many 
cases  observe  the  same  tribal  cus- 
toms as  their  pre-historic  ancestors. 
These  pueblos  are  communal  dwell- 
ings of  from  one  or  two,  to  five  and 
six  stories  in  height,  built  of  adobe 
bricks,  and  the  Indians  themselves 
Jorm  a  most  picturesque  feature  of 
the  whole  setting. 

Then  there  are  numerous  historic 
relics  that  are  closely  interwoven 
with  American  history,  for  New  Mex- 
ico has  been  the  setting  of  some  stir- 
ring scenes,  and  the  whole  state  ™ves 
evidence  of  having  been  battle- 
scarred,  with  its  ruined  forts,  its 
crumbling  adobe  round  towers  that 
once  withstood  the  shafts  of  the  en- 
emy, and  its  monuments  to  heroes 
fallen  in  battle  against  savage  Indi- 
ans, while  its  old  mission  churches, 
many  of  which  are  still  used  as  places 
of  worship,  are  monuments  to  the 
heroes  of  peace  that  came  to  con- 
quer ty  the  cross. 

STATE    GOVERNMENT    AND 
SOCIAL    CONDITIONS. 

All  state  officers  are  elected,  as 
are  the  members  of  the  judiciary.  A 
department  known  as  the  Corpora- 
tion Commission,  having  extensive 
eunbority  in  the  regulation  of  corpo- 
rations, was  established  by  the  state 
constitution.  This  commission  is 
given  a  rigid  supervision  over  all 
public  service  corporations  with  the 
intent  that  the  rights  of  the  citizens 
ma}'  be  maintained  at  all  times.  When 
the  framers  of  the  state  constitution 
assembled  it  was  with  the  desire  to 
fi'ive  the  new  state  such  a  constitu- 
tion as  wonM  place  it  :n  line  with  the 
older  commonwealths  that  have  made 
cur  nation  great.  The  result  of  their 
deliberations  met  with  the  approval 
ol  the  citizens  of  the  state,  and  has 
been  the  means  of  rearing  a  gov- 
ernmental structure  that  will  endure 
because  the  foundation  is  sound. 


—31— 

There  is  also  an  officer  known  as 
the  State  Bank  Examiner  and  an- 
other as  the  Traveling  Auditor. 
Through  these  officers  the  banks  and 
the  books  of  the  officials  of  each 
county  are  required  to  be  examined 
once  a  year. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  there  is 
no  state  poor  house  in  New  Mexico, 
and  the  need  of  one  has  not  yet  been 
made  manifest,  although  there  are 
charitable  institutions  under  private 
control  which  care  for  the  indigent 
sick,  and  the  state  contributes  to 
the  support  of  such  institutions  as 
well  as  to  the  support  of  several  or- 
phan asylums  that  are  conducted  by 
charitable  organizations.  The  state 
institutions,  semi-charitable;  insane 
asylum;  schools  for  the  deaf  and 
dumb  and  the  blind,  are  all  well  pro- 
vided for  and  the  land  appropriations 
made  for  their  maintenance  assist 
materially  in  reducing  taxation.  The 
court  records  of  New  Mexico  show 
a  percentage  of  crime  below  the  av- 
erage of  many  older  states,  giving 
evidence  of  the  class  of  citizenship 
and  the  extent  to  which  the  laws 
are  enforced. 

New  Mexico  offers  a  homeland  un- 
der good  government;  a  healthful 
climate,,  delightful  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year,  with  the  door  of  opportun- 
ity open  to  all  that  are  able  and  will- 
ing to  couple  energy  with  good 
judgment ,  because  here,  as  every- 
where else,  there  must  be  diligent 
effort  intelligently  directed,  without 
which  no  man  can  make  a  success  of 
any  undertaking  in  life.  This  is  in 
reality  a  new  field,  presenting  a 
chance  to  begin,  and  while  it  is  not 
a  frontier  it  offers  rare  opportuni- 
ties to  make  a  new  start,  and  now  is 
the  time  to  investigate  the  resources 
and  possibilities  of  New  Mexico. 


RAILROAD  SYSTEMS. 

Railroads,  in  crossing  the  state,  are 
built  along  the  lines  of  least  resist- 
ance. The  main  line  of  the  Atchison, 
Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  passes  through 
a  practically  rough,  mountainous  re- 


—32— 

gion,  care  having  been  given  in  the 
building  of  the  road,  to  grades  and 
not  to  any  possibilities  of  the  de- 
velopment of  the  country,  as  it  was 
meant  to  be  a  trunk  line  from  east 
to  west. 

The  Rock  Island  and  El  Paso  & 
Southwestern  was  built  partly  as  a 
trunk  line,  and  partly  for  the  purpose 
of  carrying  coal  and  coke  from  the 
Pawson  coal  mines,  in  Colfax  Coun- 
ty to  the  copper  mines  of  the  own- 
ers in  other  parrs  of  the  great  south- 
west. 

The  Colorado  &  Southern,  which 
passes  through  the  northeastern  cor- 
ner of  the  state,  is  a  notable  excep- 
tion in  this  regard,  as  it  is  the  only 
line  along  which  dry-farming  may 
be  seen  to  its  best  advantage. 

The  Denver  &  Rio  Grande  Railroad, 
in  following  the  line  of  least  resist- 
ance, passes  through  some  of  the 
most  beautiful  Rocky  Mountain  scen- 
ery in  New  Mexico,  but  this  does 
not  convey  to  the  mind  of  the  pas- 
senger much  of  an  idea  of  the  rich 
agricultural  country  lying  beyond  the 
line  of  vision  from  the  car  windows. 

Railroads  now  operating  in  New 
Mexico  are  the  Atchison,  Topeka  & 
Santa  Fe,  the  principal  system  which, 
with  its  main  lines  and  branches, 
reaches  into  all  the  more  thickly  set- 
tled counties.  It  crosses  the  state 
fiom  east  to  west  and  from  north  to 
south,  passing  through  twenty  of  the 
tweniv-six  counties,  reaching  most 
all  of  the  principal  cities  and  towns. 

The  El  Paso  &  Southwestern  sys- 
tem passes  through  southern  and 
southeastern  New  Mexico,  joining  the 
Rock  Island  system  at  Tucumcari.  A 
branch  line  is  operated  to  the  great 
coal  fields  at  Dawson,  in  Colfax 
County.  The  Choctaw,  Oklahoma  & 
Gulf  Railroad  has  recently  been  com- 
pleted from  the  east  as  far  as  Tucum- 
cari, in  the  northern  part  of  Quay 
County. 

The  Denver  &  Rio  Grande  Railroad 
reaches  into  Rip  Arriba,  Taos  and 
Santa  Fe  counties  from  the  north, 
with  a  narrow  gauge  line  that  ter- 
minates at  Santa  Fe,  and  from  Du- 


—33— 

rango,  Colorado,  this  line  runs  into 
San  Juan  County,  New  Mexico,  with 
a  standard  gauge  road,  and  its  pres- 
ent plans  contemplate  the  ultimate 
standardizing  of  its  entire  system. 

The  Colorado  &  Southern  Railroad 
crosses  Union  county  with  several 
branches.  The  main  line  of  the  South- 
ern Pacific  system  operates  acros* 
the  southwestern  part  of  the  state 
from  east  to  west.  The  New  Mex- 
ico Central  runs  from  Santa  Fe  to 
Torrance.  The  St.  Louis,  Rocky 
Mountain  &  Pacific  Railroad  is  op- 
erated from  Raton  across  Colfax  and 
Union  counties,  reaching  the  impor- 
tant coal,  timber  and  farming  regions 
of  both  counties,  and  terminating  at 
Ute  Park,  a  most  attractive  summer 
resort  for  tourists  and  healthseekers 

There  are  also  a  number  of  short 
lines  and  branches,  while  several  sur- 
veys have  been  made  recently  with 
a  view  of  extending  present  lines. 

The  entire  railroad  mileage  of  New 
Mexico  is  2,992.07. 

STATE  HIGHWAYS   AND 
COUNTY  ROADS. 

One  of  the  best  evidences  of  the 
value  of  a  directing  authority  in  the 
matter  of  constructing  public  high- 
ways consists  in  the  eminently  satis- 
factory results  obtained  through  the 
work  of  the  State  Highway  Commis- 
sion. The  State  Engineer,  through 
whose  office  all  of  the  work  on  the 
state  highways  is  done,  and  under 
whose  supervision  county  roads  and 
bridges  are  constructed,  is  the  offi- 
cial engineer  of  this  State  Highway 
Commission. 

Since  New  Mexico  was  admitted  in- 
to the  Union  of  States,  in  1912,  nine- 
ty-six bridges  have  been  built 
throughout  the  new  state.  Thirty- 
three  of  these  are  fine  steel  bridges 
over  deep,  turbulent  streams;  fifty- 
one  are  wooden  trestle  bridges  over 
less  dangerous  crossings,  and  twelve 
are  small  wooden  structures  from 
twenty  to  two  hundred  feet  long 
thrown  across  sandy  arroyos.  Most 
of  these  bridges  were  built  under 


—34- 

contract,  excepting  the  ones  across 
the  arroyos,  which  were  constructed 
by  the  engineer's  force. 

The  type  of  bridge  best  suited  to 
local  conditions,  especially  over  the 
Pecos  River  and  the  Rio  Grande  con- 
sists of  sixty  to  eighty-foot  steel  ooi,\ 
trusses,  on  creosoted  piers  over  the 
main  channel,  and  a  pile  trestle  over 
the  remainder  of  the  stream. 

Previous  to  1912  the  roads  through- 
out New  Mexico  were  scattered,  ir- 
rcgu'ar  and  followed  no  systemarn. 
lines.  Many  of  these  original  country 
roads  have  now  become  entirely  ob- 
literated, while,  on  the  other  hand, 
where  the  earlier  settlers  followed 
straight  routes  across  the  mesas  from 
place  to  place,  forming  a  solid  road- 
bed with  wagon  wheels  alone,  the 
State  Highway  Commission  has 
deemed  it  wise  to  preserve  many  of 
such  roads  as  a  part  of  the  plan  of 
state  highways.  These  roads  are  in 
a  good  state  of  preservation,  needing 
only  some  attention  across  drainages, 
mostly  sandy  arroyos.  New  roads  o< 
this  type  also  are  being  constructed 
with  drags  and  machines  at  a  cost  of 
approximately  $50  to  $100  a  mile 
Probably  about  one-third  of  the  mile- 
age of  the  present  plan  of  the  system 
of  state  highways  includes  this  type 
of  road. 

The  main  artery  of  traffic  in  the 
system  of  good  roads  in  New  Mexico, 
however,  is  known  as  "El  Camin-c 
Real,"  sometimes  poetically  translat- 
ed as  "The  King's  Higihway,"  but  its 
accurate  interpretation  is  simply  the 
Main  Road.  At  the  present  time  this 
road  is  completed  a  distance  of  more 
than  five  hundred  miles,  from  the 
state  line  of  Colorado  north  of  Ra- 
ton, by  the  way  of  Las  Vegas,  Santa 
Fe,  Albuquerque,  Los  Lunas,  Socorro, 
San  Marcial,  Rincon,  Las  Cruces,  to 
the  state  line  at  Anthony,  leading 
thence  into  El  Paso,  Texas.  It  will 
be  several  years,  however,  before  this 
road  can  be  brought  up  to  the  stand- 
ard that  the  State  Highway  Commis- 
sion intends  that  it  shall  eventually 
attain,  but  it  is  open  for  traffic  the 
year  round,  even  under  present  stand- 


ard  and  conditions.  But  the  State 
Highway  Commission  *has  outlined 
tentative  plans  for  a  road  system 
throughout  the  state  that  is  calculat- 
ed to  reach  all  the  county  seats  and 
the  principal  towns  and  communities 
giving  due  consideration  to  direct- 
ness of  route,  benefits  to  be  derived 
and  accommodations  to  settled  com- 
munities, with  standard  plans  of  road 
construction  and  crossings  for  rivers 
and  arroyos  to  be  of  a  high  class  and 
permanent.  Where  roads  are  for  tem- 
porary use  to  permit  inter-county 
traffic,  a  cheaper  form  of  construc- 
tion is  employed.  These  plans  con- 
template about  four  thousand  mile? 
of  good  roads. 

One  of  the  functions  of  the  State 
Highway  Commission  is  to  work  out 
plans  and  construct  a  state  highway 
system  co-operating  with  county 
commissioners  in  building  inter- 
county  roads,  with  the  result  that  a 
well-developed  highway  system  is 
now  receiving  benefits  of  state  fund? 
with  the  assistance  of  county  money 
wherever  demanded.  The  total 
amount  of  money  available  from  all 
sources  for  the  building  of  these 
highways  during  the  year  of  1916  is 
$1,247,227. 

From  these  facts  and  figures  ob- 
tained from  the  State  Engineer's  of- 
fice, it  may  be  seen  readily  that  New 
Mexico  is  not  lacking  in  energy  and 
enterprise  in  the  matter  of  public 
highways,  and  that  it  will  be  but  a 
comparatively  short  time  until  the 
farmer  will  be  able  to  market  his 
products  at  a  greater  distance  than 
at  present,  through  the  ever  extend- 
ing system  of  good  roads. 

SCHOOLS  OF  THE  STATE. 

One  of  the  first  considerations  to 
the  homeseeker,  is  the  question  of 
schools.  As  heretofore  stated,  Con- 
gress granted  to  New  Mexico  an  en- 
dowment of  12,000,000  acres  of  pub- 
lic lands,  revenues  from  the  sale  and 
lease  of  which  are  to  be  devoted  to 
the  support  of  higher  educational  in- 
stitutions, public  schools,  semi-chari- 


-36- 

table  and  penal  institutions.  The 
school  laws  are  modern  and  efficient, 
and  every  community  throughout  the 
state  is  an  active  force  in  forwarding 
the  educational  movement.  During 
the  year  1915  a  concerted  war  was 
waged  against  any  degree  of  illiter- 
acy in  the  state,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  evening  schools  has  mate- 
rially aided  in  this  campaign. 

There  is  a  state  superintendent  of 
public  instruction  and  a  state  board 
of  education,  while  each  county  has 
its  superintendent  of  public  schools 
who  works  in  conjunction  with  the 
state  officers,  and  the  beneficial  re- 
sults of  this  system  are  seen  in  the 
increasing  number  of  school  houses 
that  are  being  built  as  rapidly  as  the 
needs  of  the  districts  demand  them; 
while  every  city  and  town  maintains 
its  own  public  school  department. 

The  public  school  system  of  New 
Mexico  compares  favorably  with  that 
of  any  state  in  the  Union.  It  oper- 
ates under  the  uniform  text-book  sys- 
tem and  for  the  fiscal  year  ending 
June  30,  1915,  a  total  of  $1,549,825  was 
expended  in  maintaining  the  element- 
ary and  high  schools  of  this  state. 
There  is  a  compulsory  education  law 
which  is  rigidly  enforced. 

In  addition  to  the  public  schools 
New  Mexico  maintains  the  following 
State  Institutions  of  learning: 

University  of  New  Mexico,  at  Al- 
buquerque; College  of  Agriculture 
and  Mechanic  Arts,  at  Mesilla  Park, 
Dona  Ana  County;  School  of  Mines, 
at  Socorro;  New  Mexico  Military  In- 
stitute, at  Roswell,  Chaves  County; 
New  Mexico  Normal  School,  at  Sil- 
ver City,  Grant  County;  New  Mexico 
Normal  University,  at  Las  Vegas, 
San  Miguel  County;  New  Mexico 
Spanish-American  Normal  School,  at 
El  Rito,  Rio  Arriba  County;  Institute 
for  the  Blind,  at  Alamogordo,  Otero 
County,  and  the  Institute  for  the 
Deaf  and  Dumb,  at  Santa  Fe,  the 
state  capital. 

The  United  States  Government  al- 
so maintains  several  schools  for  In- 
dians in  this  state,'  notably  those  at 
Albuquerque;  Santa  Fe ;  Blackrock,  in 


—37— 

McKinley  County;  Dulce,  in  Rio  Ar- 
riba  County,  and  at  Shiprock.  in  San 
Juan  County,  which  last  mentioned 
school  took  first  prize  for  its  indus- 
trial exhibit  at  the  state  fair  held  at 
Albuquerque  in  October  of  1915. 

In  addition  to  these  there  are  many 
mission  schools,  sectarian  and  pri- 
vate educational  institutions  and 
those  in  charge  of  religious  orders, 
all  of  which  give  the  children  of  New 
Mexico  every  advantage  for  broad 
and  liberal  education. 

CHURCHES  OF  NEW  MEXICO. 

Homeseekers  who  may  be  desirous 
of  some  assurance  that  the  reli- 
gious element  of  life  in  New  Mex- 
ico is  not  lacking,  before  inves- 
tigating the  material  advantages  of 
the  state,  need  have  no  hesitancy  in 
taking  up  their  residence  here,  as  the 
spiritual  needs  of  the  people  arc  es- 
pecially well  cared  for. 

There  are  houses  of  worship  in  ev- 
ery city  and  town,  and  in  most  of 
the  villages  of  the  state,  while  num- 
erous cross-crowned,  wayside  chap- 
els are  an  attractive  feature  of  the 
country  districts. 

The  various  Protestant  denomina- 
tions are  well  represented  through- 
out New  Mexico  in  churches,  mis- 
sions and  schools. 

The  Jews  have  fine  synagogues  at 
Las  Vegas  and  at  Albuquerque,  each 
with  a  permanent  Rabbi  in  chargie, 
and  in  addition  thereto  are  Temple 
Aid  Societies  and  branches  of  the 
Independent  Order  B'nai  B'rith,  both 
active  benevolent  organizations. 
There  is  a  small  Jewish  congregation 
at  Roswell,  but  it  has  no  permanent 
building  nor  Rabbi. 

The  Catholic  Church  is  in  evidence 
in  every  part  of  the  state  with  its 
church  buildings  and  religious  insti- 
tutions of  learning)  and  charity. 
Many  of  its  old  mission  buildings, 
some  of  which  ante-date  those  of 
California  by  more  than  a  century, 
still  are  used  as  places  of  worship 
and  form  one  of  the  many  tourist  at- 
tractions of  the  state. 


WAGES    AND    THE  COST     OF 
LIVING. 

Skilled  workmen,  as  a  rule,  find  no 
difficulty  in  securing  employment  in 
the  leading  cities  and  towns  of  New 
Mexico,  while  the  many  mining 
camps  of  the  state  offer  continual 
apportunities  for  work.  The  wage 
scale  is  that  of  other  states,  and 
there  has  been  a  noticeable  freedom 
from  labor  troubles  in  all  of  New 
Mexico's  industries. 

The  cost  of  living  in  this  state  is 
little  different  from  that  of  other 
western  states,  the  fluctuations  in 
prices  being  governed  here,  as  else- 
where, by  the  laws  of  supply  and  de- 
mand. Freight  rates  on  goods 
shipped  from  a  distance  have  an  in- 
fluence on  prices,  but  the  cost  of  liv- 
ing, is  no  greater  than  in  most  cities, 
while  in  the  farming  districts  and 
even  in  many  of  tfce  villages  much  of 
the  home  foodstuff  can  be  raised  on 
small  patches  of  ground,  with  chick- 
ens and  cows  as  a  first  aid  to  the 
housewife. 

OTHER  THINGS  OF  COMMER- 
CIAL VALUE. 

In  the  preceding  pages  we  have  en- 
deavored to  give  an  accurate  Jaut 
general  idea  of  the  resources  and 
possibilities  of  this  great  State  of 
New  Mexico.  However,  there  are 
other  things  of  commercial  value 
raised  in  this  state  in  the  various 
counties,  of  which  particular  mention 
has  not  been  made.  As  an  instance, 
the  bee  industry  is  exceptionally 
prosperous,  although  on  a  small  scale. 
From  practically  every  locality  where 
fruit  and  alfalfa  are  grown  there  are 
shipments  of  honey,  the  quantity  of 
which  is  difficult  to  determine  as 
these  shipments,  necessarily,  are 
small  from  each  producer. 

Poultry  raising-  always  is  a  profit- 
able adjunct  to  each  farm  and  ranch. 
The  most  extensive  poultry  farm  in 
the  state  is  located  at  Tularosa,  in 
Otero  County,  where  the  owner  has 
ten  thousand  White  Leghorn  chick- 


—39— 

ens,  and  for  the  past  three  years  has 
obtained  an  unvarying  price  of  sixty- 
five  cents  a  dozen  for  eggs ;  all  of 
them  are  marked  with  the  date  on 
which  they  are  laid,  and  most  of 
tjiem  are  shipped  to  Los  Angeles, 
California,  for  use  in  sanatoriums  and 
health  resorts. 

Creamery  products  have  been  men- 
tioned, and  in  a  new  country,  where 
rough  feed  and  the  silo  are  used  in 
conjunction,  nothing  is  more  profit- 
able. The  cow  produces  the  butter 
fat,  raises  a  calf  which  either  will 
be  a  butter  fat  producer  itself,  or  lat- 
er become  a  marketable  commodity 
for  veal  or  beef,  while  stock  on  the 
farm  enrich  the  soil.  Hogs  are  an- 
other adjunct  to  this  industry.  Prac- 
tically every  postoffice  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  state  is  an  agency 
for  some  creamery,  sending  out  the 
call  for  butter  fats. 

As  many  of  us  cannot  reach  beyond 
a  certain  point  on  life's  highway  to 
wealth,  what  is  more  attractive  and 
comfortable  than  a  small  ranch  with 
a  few  cows,  pigs  and  chickens,  and 
perhaps  some  sheep.  Butter,  eggs 
and  fresh  milk  bring  health  and  hap- 
piness to  people  that  have  lived  a 
crowded  city  life.  The  production  of 
these  things  means  healthful  occupa- 
tion in  the  open  air,  and  the  Agricul- 
tural Department  of  the  United 
States  will  furnish,  free  of  charge  for 
the  asking,  full  information  in  regard 
to  the  care  required  for  these  pro- 
ducts at  the  minimum  cost,  in  any  lo- 
cality desired.  In  addition  to  this, 
there  are  many  counties  in  New  Mex- 
ico that  employ  a  District  Agricul- 
turist, whose  duty  it  is  to  study  the 
problems  that  confront  the  farmers 
of  his  particular  district,  and  assist 
them  in  every  way  possible,  with 
practical  advice,  to  a  solution  of  the 
best  ways  and  means  of  deriving  the 
maximum  profit  from  a  minimum  in- 
vestment. This  has  proved  of  ines- 
timable benefit  to  the  newcomer  in 
the  state,  as  well  as  helpful  to  many 
older  residents. 


-40- 

COUNTIES  OF    NEW  MEXICO 
AND  THEIR  PUBLIC  LANDS. 

The  twenty-six  counties  of  New 
Mexico  and  their  leading  cities,  with 
population  as  given  in  the  Census 
of  1910,  with  a  short  sketch  of  the 
resources  and  industries,  together 
with  available  public  lands  in  each 
county,  are  here  mentioned  separate- 
ly, as  follows: 

BERNALILLO  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  23,606;  county 
seat,  Albuquerque ;  acreage  open  to 
entry  under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  San- 
ta Fe,  surveyed,  65,419;  unsurveyed, 
21,700. 

Principal  city,  Albuquerque;  popu- 
lation, 11,020;  altitude,  4,949;  towns, 
Old  Albuquerque,  population,  2,143; 
Griegos,  population,  746;  Alameda, 
population,  554. 

Bernalillo  County,  situated  in  the 
central  part  of  the  state,  is  the  small- 
est, and  yet  one  of  the  '"Mest  coun- 
ties in  New  Mexico.  Lanos  lying  in 
the  Valley  of  the  Rio  Grande  have 
been  cultivated  for  centuries,  from 
generation  to  generation,  many  of 
the  titles  coming  down  from  the  or- 
iginal Spanish  grants,  while  others 
have  been  acquired  by  homestead. 
The  public  lands  in  this  county  are 
scattered,  as  the  more  desirable  ag- 
ricultural lands  have  been  taken  up 
for  many  years,  but  there  are  still 
some  very  good  tracts  in  quarter  sec- 
tions that  may  be  obtained  which 
could  be  watered  either  by  sinking 
wells  and  installing  pumping  plants, 
or  by  storage  water.  However,  it 
would  require  close  investigation  to 
locate  them,  and  to  ascertain  the  ex- 
act lines  of  surveys  and  description 
of  tracts  desired. 

The  Rio  Grande  flows  through  the 
county  from  north  to  south,  and  the 
valley  along  its  course  is  very  pro- 
ductive in  vegetables,  fruits  and 
grains,  as  well  as  alfalfa,  the  latter 
being  one  of  the  staple  crops.  The 
Indian  Pueblo  of  Isleta  is  located  in 
this  valley,  about  twelve  miles  south 
of  Albuquerque,  and  the  pueblo  lands 


—41— 

comprise  some  of  the  best  in  this 
locality,  which  have  been  cultivat- 
ed successfully  for  many  generations. 
while  other  portions  of  these  lands 
are  not  so  desirable. 

The  cultivated  area  in  this  county 
is  being  rapidly  improved  and  ex- 
tended, and  irrigated  lands  can  be 
purchased  at  reasonable  figures,  con- 
sidering their  productiveness. 

Albuquerque,  the  county  seat,  is 
the  largest  city  in  the  state.  It  was 
founded  by  Spaniards  about  1706,  and 
therefore  is  closely  associated  with 
the  early  history  of  New  Mexico. 
With  the  advent  of  trans-continental 
railroad  lines  into  t'his  country  the 
ancient  city  awoke  to  a  new  activity, 
and  took  its  place  at  the  head  in  the 
march  of  Progress. 

Since  the  last  census  Albuquerque 
has  advanced  very  rapidly,  and  it  is 
now  estimated  that  her  population  is 
not  less  than  fifteen  thousand.  This 
city  is  on  the  main  line  of  the  At- 
chison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  Railway 
running  from  Chicago  to  the  Pacific 
Coast,  and  this  railway  system  main- 
tains extensive  shops  at  this  point. 
Also  large  shipments  of  wool  are  sent 
out  from  here,  and  one  of  the  biggest 
lumber  mills  in  the  United  States  is 
located  at  Albuquerque,  most  of  its 
logs  being  shipped  down  from  the 
Zuni  Mountains. 

Among  the  principal  buildings  may 
be  mentioned  a  fine  Federal  Building^ 
a  handsome  Commercial  club  that 
would  do  credit  to  a  much  larger 
city,  the  New  Mexico  State  Univer- 
sity, and  the  magnificent  depot  and 
hotel  built  by  the  Atchison,  Topeka 
&  Santa  Fe  Railway.  One  of  the 
largest  of  the  U.  S.  Indian  Schools 
is  located  but  a  short  distance  from 
this  city. 

A  creamery  is  among  the  indus- 
tries in  operation  at  this  place,  af- 
fording a  ready  market  for  dairy 
products.  A  fine  bridge  across  the 
Rio  Grande  gives  access  to  the  farm 
lands  west  of  Albuquerque. 

There  is  a  fine  system  of  street 
railways  run  by  electric  power 
throughout  the  city.  The  streets  are 


-42— 

wide,  well  paved  thoroughfares  with 
many  fine  store  and  office  buildings 
in  the  business  center.  The  residence 
streets  are  beautifully  shaded  with 
stately  trees,  and  the  flower  gar- 
dens about  the  homes  are  an  espe- 
cially attractive  feature  of  the  resi- 
dence districts. 

Albuquerque  has  quite  a  number 
of  good  hotels,  some  of  them  first 
class,  and  all  the  state  fairs  and 
many  notable  conventions  have  been 
held  in  this  city.  Her  city  scholos 
are  among  the  best  in  the  state. 

East  of  Albuquerque,  in  the  Sandia 
mountains,  there  are  several  very 
promising  mining  districts,  the  prin- 
cipal products  being  gold,  copper  and 
lead. 

According  to  compilations  made  by 
the  U.  S.  Weather  Bureau,  at  San- 
ta Fe,  from  the  records  of  the  sta- 
tion at  Albuquerque,  the  normal  an- 
nual precipitation  for  this  county 
amounts  to  7.5  inches ;  normal  sea- 
sonal, from  April  to  September,  4.9 
inches ;  normal  seasonal  snowfall, 
7.7  inches ;  mean  annual  temperature, 
56° ;  mean  winter  temperature,  36° ; 
mean  summer  temperature,  75°. 

CRAVES  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  16,850;  county 
seat,  Roswell;  acreage  open  to  entry, 
under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Ft.  Sum- 
ner,  surveyed,  610,733;  unsurveyed. 
none.  Under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Roswell,  surveyed  980,270;  unsurvey- 
ed, 474,716. 

Principal  cities  and  towns :  Ros- 
well, population  6,172;  altitude  3,570; 
Hagerman,  population  449;  Dexter, 
population  242;  Lake  Arthur,  popula- 
tion 344. 

Chaves  County  is  situated  on  the 
eastern  border  of  New  Mexico  to- 
ward the  south.  During  the  year  of 
1915  the  sales  and  leases  of  state 
lands  in  this  county  have  been  very 
large.  There  is  a  considerable 
amount  of  state  land  in  this  county 
now  under  lease,  but  which  is  for 
sale,  and  there  are  still  many  thou- 
sands of  acres  open  to  entry  on  the 
wide  plains.  Water  must  be  devel- 


oped  on  these  lands  either  by  drill- 
ing, digging  wells  or  by  storage  res- 
ervoirs. An  extensive  part  of  the 
land*  lie  west  of  the  Pecos  River, 
which  flows  through  the  county  from 
north  to  south,  and  some  of  these 
lands  are  in  what  is  known  as  the 
"Artesian  Belt,"  where  many  arte- 
sian wells  have  been  sunk  which  have 
produced  a  steady  flow  of  water.  Sev- 
eral other  fine  streams  add  to  the 
water  supply  of  this  county,  and  dry- 
farming  along  the  Pecos  River  has 
proved  very  successful,  but  the  out- 
lying lands  require  irrigation  in  order 
to  insure  good  crops.  Pecos  Valley 
apples  are  celebrated  for  their  rich- 
ness of  flavor  and  as  a  marketable 
commodity  are  unsurpassed.  Prunes 
and  apricots  are  another  specialty  in 
this  valley,  and  this  county  contains 
some  of  the  finest  orchards  in  the 
state,  as  well  as  some  small  truck 
farms  that  have  been  a  paying  in- 
vestment from  the  start.  The  Denia 
onion,  which  is  a  much  larger  onion 
than  the  Bermuda,  but  of  the  same 
color  and  flavor,  is  another  big  pro- 
ducer of  this  valley.  Hogs  and  poul- 
try flourish  in  this  county  be- 
cause of  the  productiveness  of  the 
soil  which  -decreases  the  cost  of  fat- 
tening them  for  market.  Cante- 
loupes,  melons  and  alfalfa  are  among 
the  staple  crops  of  this  county,  and 
vegetables,  grains,  and  especially 
field  corn,  are  raised  in  great  abun- 
dance. Corn  grown  without  irriga- 
tion in  the  lowlands,  during  very  wet 
years,  has  averaged  seventy-five  and 
ninety  bushels  to  the  acre.  There  is 
some  alkali  in  these  lands,  and  in 
making  selections  one  should  be 
careful  in  this  regard,  although  sugar 
beets,  sugar  cane  and  Denia  onions 
seem  to  thrive  in  that  kind  of  soil. 
Notwithstanding  the  encroachment 
of  the  farmer,  the  stock-raiser  still 
looms  large  in  Chaves  County,  which 
is  a  splendid  grazing  country,  and 
many  large  herds  of  cattle  and  sheep 
are  pastured  there. 

Roswell  is  one  of  the  rapidly  grow- 
ing cities  of  the  state.  It  is  of  a  new- 
er type  than  some  of  the  older  towns, 


its  houses  being  constructed  mostly 
of  wood  or  brick,  its  streets  wide, 
shaded  with  beautiful  trees,  paved 
and  sewered,  with  a  fine  water 
system  owned  by  the  city.  It  is 
lighted  by  electricity,  but  has  no 
street  railway.  It  has  a  Federal 
Building  which  cost  the  Government 
$125rOOO,  and  a  modern,  beautiful 
Court  House  which  is  a  credit 
to  the  county.  There  are  two 
first-class  hotels  in  Roswell,  and  sev- 
eral others  that  are  very  good.  The 
New  Mexico  Military  Institute,  one 
of  the  State  Institutions,  is  located  at 
Roswell. 

The  Santa  Fe  Railway  is  the  only 
one  running  through  Roswell,  but 
there  is  a  daily  automobile  service 
into  Lincoln  County,  on  the  west, 
connecting  with  points  on  the  Rock 
Island  system,  and  other  railroad 
lines  have  been  surveyed,  so  that 
there  is  some  prospect  of  further 
outlets  in  the  near  future.  The 
county  roads  of  Chaves  County  are 
a  credit  to  its  enterprising  citizens, 
many  of  the  public  highways  being 
lined  on  either  side  with  shade  trees. 

A  large  cement  plaster  plant  is  lo- 
cated at  Acme,  in  Chaves  County, 
utilizing  the  gypsum  deposits  for 
manufacturing  much  of  its  output. 

Chaves  County  is  a  part  of  the  rich 
Pecos  Valley,  and  its  climate  is  very 
delightful,  offering  inviting  opportun- 
ities to  the  homeseeker  and  investor. 

Normal  annual  precipitation  in  this 
county  is  14.2  inches ;  normal  sea- 
sonal from  April  to  September,  9.7; 
normal  seasonal  snowfall,  11.3  inches; 
mean  annual  temperature,  60°  ;  mean 
winter  temperature,  41°;  mean  sum- 
mer temperature,  77°.  Weather  Bu- 
reau station  located  at  Roswell.  Sta- 
tistics compiled  by  the  Bureau  at 
Santa  Fe. 

COLFAX  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  16,460;  county 
seat,  Raton;  acreage  open  to  entry 
under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Santa  Fe, 
surveyed,  13,680;  unsurveyed,  none. 
Under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Clayton, 
surveyed,  45,620;  unsurveyed,  none. 


-45— 

Principal  cities  and  towns :  Raton, 
population,  4,539;  altitude,  6,668; 
Dawson,  population,  3,119;  Cimarron, 
population,  791 ;  Springer,  population, 
550;  Maxwell,  population,  395. 

Colfax  County  is  situated  on  the 
northern  border  of  New  Mexico,  and 
is  one  of  the  richest  in  the  state  in- 
dustrially and  in  opportunities.  Ac- 
cording to  the  Annual  Report  of  the 
State  Mine  Inspector  for  1915,  Colfax 
continues  to  be  the  principal  produc- 
er of  coal  in  the  state.  Its  total  out- 
put for  1915  amounted  to  2,938,308  tons 
of  coal,  and  364,873  tons  of  coke,  from 
which  it  may  be  seen  that  the  coal 
mines  of  this  county  are  one  of  her 
biggest  assets.  These  mines  furnish 
all  the  coal  and  coke  used  at  the  big 
copper  mines  of  Douglas,  in  Arizona, 
and  at  Cananea,  in  Old  Mexico. 

There  are  a  great  number  of  coal 
mines  in  this  county,  those  at  Dawson 
being  the  most  extensive  in  the  west, 
while  large  deposits  are  still  undevel- 
oped. In  the  northern  part  of  the 
county,  in  the  Elizabethtown  section, 
there  are  promising  mining  claims 
where  placers  have  been  worked  for 
years,  producing  a  large  amount  of 
gold,  and  where  there  is  an  indica- 
tion of  further  rich  development. 

An  extensive  land  grant,  coming 
down  from  the  time  of  the  Mexican 
regime,  extended  over  most  of  this 
county,  but  the  title  thereto  has  been 
settled,  and  there  is  ample  opportun- 
ity for  securing  vacant  lands. 

One  large  private  company  has  re- 
claimed 22,000  acres,  and  the  Farm- 
ers' Development  Company  has  re- 
claimed 10,000  acres  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Springer.  Other  projects 
have  been  established  by  private  cap- 
ital within  the  county  and  an  avenue 
opened  to  the  small  farmer.  In  the 
eastern  part  there  still  remains  a 
large  extent  of  public  domain.  The 
county  is  advancing  rapidly  in  popu- 
lation and  wealth.  Raton  is  among 
the  more  desirable  residence  cities 
in  the  state,  fully  up-to-date,  owning, 
its  own  electric  lighting  system.  It 
is  on  the  main  line  of  the  Atchison, 
Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  Railway,  and  a 


-46— 

branch  line  operated  under  the  name 
of  the  St.  Louis,  Rocky  Mountain  & 
Pacific,  running  through  Cimarron 
into  Ute  Park,  has  headquarters  at 
Raton.  There  is  a  good  prospect  of 
an  extension  of  this  line  west  into 
Taos  Valley. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  of 
this  county  is  15.7  inches;  normal 
seasonal,  from  April  to  September, 
12.6  inches;  normal  seasonal  snow- 
fall, 29  inches ;  mean  annual  temper- 
ature, 50° ;  mean  winter  temperature, 
32° ;  mean  summer  temperature,  67°. 
Weather  Bureau  station  at  Raton. 
Statistics  compiled  by  the  Bureau  at 
Santa  Fe. 

CURRY  COUNTY. 

Population,  in  1910,  11,443;  county 
seat,  Clovis ;  acreage  open  to  entry 
under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Ft.  Sum- 
ner,  surveyed,  15,214;  'unsurveyed, 
none.  Under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Tucumcari,  surveyed,  2,054;  unsur- 
veyed, none. 

Principal  cities  and  towns  :  Clovis, 
population,  3,255;  altitude,  4,200:  Mel- 
rose,  population,  700;  Texico,  popula- 
tion, 409.  The  altitude  of  these  towns 
is  about  the  same  as  that  of  Clovis, 
the  lay  of  the  land  being  quite  level. 

Curry  County,  situated  on  the  east- 
ern boundary  of  New  Mexico,  is  one 
of  the  rapidly  developing)  sections  of 
the  state  and  is  an  example  of  west- 
ern growth  where  opportunities  are 
favorable.  In  1906  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent prosperous  municipality  of  Clovis 
was  an  unbroken  plain.  Today  it  is 
a  modern,  progressive  little  city  with 
a  prosperous  future  well  assured.  It 
is  a  junction  point  of  the  Belen  Cut- 
Off  and  the  Pecos  Valley  branch  of 
the  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe 
Railway,  and  more  raliroad  building 
from  this  point  is  now  under  consid- 
eration. Railroad  shops  are  main- 
tained at  Clovis,  and  the  surrounding, 
country  districts  are  rapidly  settling 
up. 

This  part  of  the  state  has  been, 
and  probably  always  will  be,  a  dry- 
farming  section,  which  method  has 
proven  very  successful  as  evidenced 


-47— 

by  the  prosperous  farming  communi- 
ties in  this  county. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation 
for  this  county  is  19.7  inches;  the 
normal  seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  is  15.4  inches; 
the  normal  seasonal  snowfall  amounts 
to  17.6  inches;  mean  annual  temper- 
ature, 56° ;  mean  winter  temperature, 
36°,  and  mean  summer  temperature, 
75°.  These  statistics  were  compiled 
by  the  Weather  Bureau  of  Santa  Fe, 
from  figures  reported  by  the  station 
at  Clovis,  and  cover  a  period  of  five 
years  only. 

DONA  ANA  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  12,893;  county 
seat,  Las  Cruces ;  acreage  open  to  en- 
try under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Las 
Cruces,  surveyed,  1,483,460;  unsur- 
veyed,  223,893. 

Principal  cities  and  towns:  Las 
Cruces,  population,  3,836;  altitude, 
3835;  Mesilla  Park,  population,  1,100; 
Dona  Ana,  population,  830;  Rincon, 
398. 

Dona  Ana  County  is  situated  on  the 
southern  border  of  New  Mexico,  and 
is  one  of  the  richest  sections  in  the 
Rio  Grande  Valley.  The  lands  north 
of  Las  Cruces  are  open  to  entry.  One 
of  the  largest  irrigation  projects  ever 
instituted,  the  Elephant  Butte,  here- 
inbefore mentioned,  waters  lands  in 
this  vicinity. 

The  Rio  Grande  flows  through 
Dona  Ana  County  from  north  to 
south,  and  east  and  west  of  the  Rio 
Grande  Valley,  on  the  higher  levels, 
there  are  thousands  of  acres  open  to 
entry.  One  of  the  richest  spots  in 
the  west  is  the  Mesilla  Valley.  It  is 
a  veritable  garden,  where  fruits  and 
vegetables  grow  to  rare  perfection, 
and  they  are  staple  crops.  Among*  the 
industries  of  this  valley  may  be  men- 
tioned grape  growing  and  wine  mak- 
ing. Also  alfalfa  and  canteloupes  are 
raised  with  great  success.  The  Mesil- 
la Valley  canteloupe  has  an  estab- 
lished reputation  in  the  principal 
markets  of  the  United  States. 

At  Mesilla  Park,  in  this  valley,  is 
located  the  New  Mexico  College  of 


—48— 

Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Art*, 
which  has  an  experimental  farm  in 
connection  with  the  college  work  that 
aims  to  introduce  the  best  methods 
of  farming  to  the  New  Mexico  farm- 
er. 

The  leading  industry  in  Dona  Ana 
County  is  agriculture,  where  it  can 
be  made  a  great  success.  Some  at- 
tention also  is  given  to  stock  raising. 
In  the  Organ  Mountains,  east  of  Las 
Cruces,  there  are  some  good  gold, 
silver,  copper  and  lead  mining  pros- 
pects. 

Las  Cruces  is  one  of  the  old  towns 
of  the  state,  and  it  is  only  in  com- 
paratively recent  years  that  it  has 
become  somewhat  modernized.  It  is 
on  the  line  of  the  Santa  Fe  Railway, 
abojt  twenty  miles  from  the  south 
boundary  of  the  state. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  for 
Dona  Ana  County  is  8.6  inches ;  nor- 
mal seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  5.8  inches ;  nor- 
mal seasonal  snowfall,  3.1  inches ; 
mean  annual  temperature,  61°;  mean 
winter  temperature,  44° ;  mean  sum- 
mer temperature,  79°,  according  to 
statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
the  New  Mexico  Agricultural  College. 

EDDY  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  12,400;  county 
seat,  Carlsbad;  acreage  open  to  en- 
try under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Ros- 
welL:  surveyed,  1,798,680;  unsurveyed, 
1,045,782. 

Principal  cities  and  towns:  Carls- 
bad, population,  1,736;  altitude,  3,102; 
Atesia,  population,  1,900;  Dayton,  pop- 
ulation, 280;  Lakewood,  population, 
729;  Hope,  population,  417.  The  alti- 
tude of  all  these  towns  is  about  that 
of  Carlsbad. 

Eddy  County  is  situated  in  the 
southeastern  corner  of  New  Mexico, 
and  is  crossed  by  the  Pecos  River 
from  north  to  south.  A  portion  of  it 
is  in  the  Artesian  belt,  and  its  climate 
is  a  very  pleasant  one.  The  land  is 
mostly  prairie,  and  is  adapted  to  ag- 
riculture, horticulture  and  grazing. 


The  towns  lying*  directly  in  the  Arte- 
sian belt  are  Artesia,  Dayton  and 
Lakewood.  Extending  from  Artesia 
to  Lakewood  are  numerous  oil  wells, 
a  few  of  which  are  productive.  A  ce- 
ment plaster  plant  operating  at  Ori- 
ental, south  of  Lakewood,  uses  oil 
from  these  wells  for  its  fuel,  and  also 
utilizes  the  gypsum  deposits  in  this 
vicinity  in  manufacturing  its  output. 

The  Carlsbad  Irrigation  Project,  un- 
der the  U.  S.  Reclamation  Service,  is 
in  operation  in  this  county,  using  the 
waters  of  the  Pecos  River  for  irrigat- 
ing the  lands  under  the  system,  south 
of  Carlsbad.  Also  there  is  irrigation 
from  the  waters  of  Black  River,  Pe- 
nasco,  Delaware,  and  other  streams 
that  flow  through  this  county.  In 
the  eastern  part  of  Eddy  County, 
where  stock-raising  is  a  profitable 
industry,  dry-farming  methods  are 
followed  with  success.  The  main 
products  of  the  county  are  fruit,  veg- 
etables and  grains  of  all  kind.  Al- 
falfa and  cotton  also  are  staple  crops 
of  this  county.  Carlsbad  peaches 
have  a  reputation  for  fine  flavor  and 
beauty  of  color  that  makes  them 
marketable.  They  are  especially 
good  for  shipping  because  of  their 
solid  meat.  English  walnuts  also  are 
successfully  raised  in  Eddy  County. 

Telephones  extend  throughout  the 
county  with  good  outside  service. 
Automobiles  also  are  used  to  con- 
nect the  different  towns  not  reached 
by  the  line  of  the  Atchison,  Topeka 
&  Santa  Fe  road,  which  runs  through 
this  county. 

Stock-raising  is  one  of  the  princi- 
pal industries  of  Eddy  County,  cat- 
tle, sheep,  horses,  Angora  goats  and 
wool  being  the  shipments  from  this 
section.  In  addition  to  these  there 
are  extensive  shipments  of  turkeys, 
and  other  poultry,  which  is  another 
profitable  industry  of  this  county. 

Carlsbad  is  a  pleasant,  modern 
town,  with  many  shade  trees.  The 
public  schools  are  excellent  and  the 
buildings  attractive.  Artesia  is  an- 
other pretty  town,  up-to-date  and 
prosperous  with  fertile  farms  sur- 
rounding it.  Lakewood  and  Dayton 


—50- 

also  are  attractive  little  towns,  and 
Hope  vindicates  its  title  by  the  at- 
mosphere of  hopefulness  that  sur- 
rounds it.  On  the  eastern  and  north- 
eastern plains  are  Monument, 
Knowles  and  Lovington,  settlements 
that  have  grown  up  in  recent  years 
and  are  still  in  the  course  of  devel- 
opment. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  county, 
in  the  Guadalupe  Mountains,  copper 
and  other  minerals  are  found.  The 
Alamo  National  Forest  is  partly  in 
the  southwestern  portion  of  the 
county. 

Immigration  into  Eddy  County  has 
been  steady  for  several  years,  but 
there  is  still  plenty  of  productive 
land  for  the  homeseeker  or  investor. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Eddy  County  is  14.3  inches ;  normal 
seasonal  precipitation,  from  April  to 
September,  10.5  inches ;  normal  snow- 
fall, 5.9  inches.  Mean  annual  temper- 
ature, 63° ;  mean  winter  temperature, 
45°,  and  mean  summer  temperature, 
80°,  according,  to  statistics  prepared 
by  the  U.  S.  Weather  Bureau  at  San 
ta  Fe,  from  figures  furnished  by  the 
station  at  Carlsbad. 

GRANT  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  14,  813;  county 
seat,  Silver  City;  acreage  open  to 
entry  under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Las 
Cruces,  surveyed,  700,156;  unsurvey- 
ed,  1,113,544. 

Principal  cities  and  towns :  Silver 
City,  population  3,217;  altitude,  5,931; 
Lordsburg,  population  1,323;  Santa 
Rita,  population  1,400;  Fort  Bayard, 
population  600;  the  altitude  is  great- 
est at  Santa  Rita,  which  is  6,325. 

Grant  County  is  situated  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  New  Mexico, 
and  possesses  remarkable  resources. 
The  apportunities  for  stock-raising, 
are  exceptionally  good,  while  agri- 
culture is  developing  to  a  high  de- 
gree of  success.  Mining  activities 
in  this  county  are  among,  the  great- 
est in  the  west.  The  production  of 
copper  is  immense,  and  that  of  gold 
and  silver  is  rapidly  increasing.  The 


—51— 

out-put  of  copper  ore  from  mines  in 
this  county  during  1915,  according 
to  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  was  ap- 
proximately 70,000,000  pounds.  The 
Chino  Copper  Company,  at  Santa 
Rita,  is  one  of  the  principal  produc- 
ers of  copper  ore  in  the  west. 

Silver  City  is  the  center  of  the 
mining  interests,  and  is  one  of  the 
very  active  cities  of  the  west.  It 
offers  a  continuous  market  for  the 
products  of  the  farm,  and  is  a  pros- 
perous municipality,  where  some  of 
the  •  leading  stockmen  of  the  state 
make  their  homes,  adjacent  to  their 
extensive  ranges. 

In  the  mountain  sections  the  grow- 
ing of  Angora  goats  has  become  prof- 
itable. 

Silver  City  is  quite  modern,  with 
a  very  good  public  school  system, 
and  it  is  in  this  city  that  one  of  the 
State  Normal  Schools  of  New  Mex- 
ico is  located.  The  Santa  Fe  railway 
running  from  Deming,  reaches  this 
city. 

Lordsburg  is  on  the  main  line  of 
the  Southern  Pacific  railroad,  and  is 
the  center  of  another  mining  district, 
surrounded  by  great  cattle  ranges, 
with  lands  open  to  the  homesteader 
or  entryman. 

There  are  some  fine  mineral  springs 
located  in  this  county,  and  the  Gila 
National  Forest  takes  in  a  part  of 
the  northerly  section,  while  the  Chi- 
ricahua  National  Forest  is  in  a  por- 
tion of  the  southwestern  section. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Grant  County  is  15.4  inches;  normal 
seasonal  precipitation,  from  April  to 
September,  9.8  inches;  normal  sea- 
sonal snowfall,  14.2  inches.  Mean 
annual  temperature,  56° ;  mean  win- 
ter temperature,  42°,  and  mean  sum- 
mer temperature,  72°,  according  to 
statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
Fort  Bayard. 

GUADALUPE   COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  10,927;  county 
seat,  Santa  Rosa;  acreage  open  to 
entry  under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 


-52— 

Ft.  Sumner,  surveyed,  458,952;  un- 
surveyed,  none;  under  U.  S.  Land  Of- 
fice at  Tucumcari,  surveyed,  51,275; 
unsurveyed,  none.  Under  U.  S.  Land 
Office  at  Santa  Fe,  surveyed,  425,052 ; 
unsurveyed,  16,550. 

Principal  cities  and  towns :  Santa 
Rosa,  population  1,031;  altitude,  4,800; 
Vaughn,  population  1.224;  Cuervo, 
population  545 ;  Ft.  Sumner,  popu- 
lation 500.  The  highest  altitude  is 
at  Vaughn,  6,000  feet. 

For  many  years  Guadalupe  County, 
situated  in  the  eastern  central  part 
of  the  state,  has  been  a  great  stock- 
raising  section.  It  is  part  of  the 
extensive  Pecos  Valley,  and  farming  is 
successfully  carried  on  along  the  Pe- 
cos River  and  its  tributaries.  There 
is  a  large  amount  of  public  land  open 
to  entry  in  this  county,  and  it  has 
been  shown  that  during  a  record  of 
five  years,  with  an  average  rainfall, 
crops  such  as  milo  maize,  beans,  kaf- 
fir  corn  and  other  cereals,  can  be 
grown  successfully  without  irrigation. 
Throughout  this  county  for  years 
past  these  crops  have  thrived.  The 
opportunities  in  this  part  of  the 
state  are  exceptionally  good  for 
stock-raising  which  has  furnished  the 
principal  wealth  of  the  county,  thus 
far.  With  the  growth  of  food  crops 
for  winter  feeding,  rich  returns  are 
possible. 

With  the  advance  and  a  better 
knowledge  of  dry-farming,  this  coun- 
ty is  sure  to  develop  more  rapidly. 
Water  has  been  found  at  a  depth  of 
from  80  to  150  feet,  and  pumping 
for  irrigation  may  be  made  a  suc- 
cess. 

Santa  Rosa,  the  county  seat,  is  on 
the  main  line  of  the  Rock  Island  Rail- 
road, and  is  about  ten  years  old.  It 
is  finely  located  and  is  a  growing 
town. 

Ft.  Sumner,  since  the  institution 
of  the  irrigation  project  in  that  lo- 
cality, gives  promise  of  substantial 
growth.  It  is  on  the  line  of  the  Be- 
len  Cut-off  of  the  Santa  Fe  Railway. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Guadalupe  County  is  14  inches;  nor- 
mal seasonal  precipitation,  from 


—53— 

April  to  September,  10.2  inches;  nor- 
mal seas®nable  snowfall,  17.5  inches; 
mean  annual  temperature,  57°  ;  mean 
winter  temperature  39° ;  mean  sum- 
mer temperature,  75°,  according  to 
statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
Santa  Rosa. 

LINCOLN  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  7,822;  county 
seat,  Carrizoso;  acreage  open  to 
entry  under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Roswell,  surveyed,  718,835;  unsurvey- 
ed,  349,319;  under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Ft.  Sumner,  surveyed,  468,993;  unsur- 
veyed,  none. 

Principal  cities  and  towns :  Carri- 
zoso, population  1.082;  altitude,  5- 
429;  Ft.  Stanton,  population  500;  Lin- 
coln, population  1,000;  Capitan,  pop- 
ulation 300;  altitude,  6,500  feet. 

Lincoln  County,  situated  in  the 
southern  central  part  of  the  state, 
has  long  been  known  for  its  fine 
fruits  :  also  it  has  produced  very  large 
crops  of  grain  and  vegetables  in  its 
rich  valleys,  and  on  its  mesas  crops 
have  been  raised  for  years  without 
irrigation.  The  lands  along  the 
streams  in  this  county  have  been 
taken  up,  but  there  still  remain  many 
geod  locations  on  the  plains  and  in 
the  mountain  valleys,  where  lands 
are  available  and  where  water  may 
be  developed.  There  are  large  cat- 
tle and  sheep  ranches  in  this  county, 
and  Angora  goat  raising  has  become 
a  profitable  industry  in  recent  years. 
A  cement  plaster  plant  at  Ancho  util- 
izes gypsum  deposits  of  this  county. 

Lincoln  County  also  has  a  reputa- 
tion as  a  gold  producer,  the  White 
Oaks  District  being  one  of  the  most 
promising  in  the  west.  Recent  de- 
velopments indicate  the  calling  of 
still  further  attention  to  this  rich 
mineral  section  through  the  discov- 
ery of  tungsten  ore.  Coal  also  has 
been  discovered  in  the  Capitan  and 
White  Oaks  regions. 

Carrizoso  is  situated  in  a  very  at- 
tractive valley,  and  is  only  about  nine 
years  old.  It  is  on  the  main  line  of 


—54- 

the  El  Paso  and  Southwestern  rail- 
road. Lincoln  is  an  old  town,  the 
cornty  seat  until  1909,  and  was  the 
scene  of  some  very  stirring  events 
in  thp  early  history  of  the  west. 

The  Lincoln  National  Forest  is  lo- 
cated m  the  sor.thern  and  western 
parts  of  this  county,  and  in  the  ex- 
treme southwestern  corner  are  some 
lava  beds  of  mi;c^  interest. 

The  normal  annral  precipitation  in 
Lincoln  County  is  16.7  inches ;  nor- 
mal seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  11.7  inches;  nor- 
mal seasonal  snowfall,  19  inches ; 
mean  annual  temperature,  52°  ;  mean 
winter  temperature,  37°,  and  mean 
summer  temperature,  68°,  according 
to  statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
Ft.  Stanton. 


LUNA  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  3,913;  county 
seat,  Deming;  acreage  open  to  entry 
under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Las  Cru- 
ces,  surveyed,  766,483;  unsurveyed, 
370,850. 

Principal  cities  and  towns :  Dem- 
ing,  population  1,864,  (now  estimated 
at  3..500);  altitude,  4,315;  Columbus, 
population  268. 

Luna  County  is  situated  on  the 
southern  border  of  the  state,  and 
prior  to  1910  was  regarded  as  a  cat- 
tle country  only,  but  the  underflow 
water  has  been  developed,  and  a 
pumping  system  for  irrigation  main- 
tained, which  has  advanced  the  ag- 
ricultural interests  very  materially. 
In  no  part  of  New  Mexico  has  the 
pumping  system  been  brought  to 
such  a  successful  issue  as  has  been 
achieved  in  the  Mimbres  Valley,  in 
Luna  County.  A  number  of  small  in- 
dividual ventures  have  proven  very 
successful,  the  water  supply  appar- 
ently being  inexhaustible,  and  it  is 
of  extraordinary  purity.  The  soil  is 
of  remarkable  fertility,  and  the  cli- 
matic conditions  very  attractive. 
Homesteads  and  desert  claims  have 
been  located  as  far  as  twenty  and 


—55— 

thirty  miles  from  Demingi.  The 
health  conditions  are  good.  In  the 
mountains  surrounding  the  valley 
minerals  have  been  discovered,  and 
that  section  promises  to  become  a 
well  defined  mining  country.  New 
developments  are  being  projected  and 
new  j-.eiilements  planned  in  the  ex- 
tensive valleys. 

Deming  is  an  attractive,  western 
town  with  pretty  homes,  excellent 
schools  and  many  modern  conven- 
iences, with  a  social  atmosphere  that 
is  delightful.  The  spirit  of  progress 
dominates  the  people,  and  they  have 
made  the  little  New  Mexico  city 
known  from  coast  to  coast.  Three 
railroads  enter  Deming,  the  Santa 
Fe,  the  Southern  Pacific  and  the  El 
Paso  &  Southwestern.  El  Paso, 
Texas,  provides  an  excellent  market 
for  Luna  County  products.  Peaches, 
pears,  prunes  and  plums  are  grown 
to  perfection  in  this  locality.  A  can- 
nery is  established  in  this  county 
where  large  quantities  of  tomatoes 
are  packed  and  shipped,  and  a  cream- 
ery is  in  operation  at  Deming. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Luna  County  is  10  inches ;  normal 
seasonal  precipitation,  from  April  to 
September,  6.6  inches ;  normal  sea- 
sonal snowfall,  4.4  inches;  mean  an- 
nual temperature,  59° ;  mean  winter 
temperature,  43°,  and  mean  summer 
temperature,  77°,  according  to  statis- 
tics prepared  by  the  U.  S.  Weather 
Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from  figures 
furnished  by  the  station  at  Deming. 

M'KINLEY  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  12,963;  county 
seat,  Gallup;  acreage  open  to  entry 
under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Santa  Fe, 
surveyed,  527,507;  unsurveyed,  154,- 
891. 

Principal  towns :  Gallup,  popula- 
2,204;  altitude,  6.506;  Gibson,  popula- 
tion 800. 

McKinley  County  is  situated  on  the 
western  border  of  the  state,  and  while 
the  more  favorable  locations  have 
been  taken  up,  there  are  sections 
available  in  the  Zuni  Mountains  suit- 
able for  farming.  Large  crops  of 


—56— 

oats,  barley  and  potatoes  are  raised, 
but  the  main  industry  of  McKinley 
County  is  coal  mining,  and  some  of 
the  most  extensive  coal  mines  in  the 
west  are  located  in  this  county.  Ac- 
cording to  the  annual  report  of  the 
State  Mine  Inspector,  for  1915,  this 
county  produced  all  of  the  sub-bi- 
tuminous coal  that  was  mined  in  the 
state  during,  that  year,  the  entire 
output  amounting  to  758,559  tons. 

There  is  a  good  deal  of  timber  in 
McKinley  County,  and  lumber  com- 
panies have  found  in  profitable  to 
operate  in  this  part  of  the  state  for 
years.  Oil  has  been  discovered  in 
the  Seven  Lakes  District,  where  ex- 
tensive prospecting  has  been  done. 
Stock-raising  is,  and  for  many  years 
past  has  been,  a  principal  industry 
of  this  county. 

Gallup  is  a  wide-awake  little  city 
that  offers  a  constant  and  excellent 
market  for  all  the  products  of  the 
farm.  It  is  on  the  main  line  of  the 
Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  Rail- 
way, running  from  Chicago  to  the 
Pacific  Coast,  and  one  of  its  Harvey 
Houses  is  located  at  Gallup.  The 
coal  mines,  only  a  short  distance 
from  this  town,  afford  another  good 
market  for  farm  produce. 

Gallup  has  many  of  the  conven- 
iences of  a  modern  city,  with  some 
very  good  hotels,  and  its  public  school 
system  is  of  a  high  class. 

A  part  of  the  Zuni  National  Forest, 
all  of  the  Fort  Wingate  Military  Mil- 
itary Reservation,  and  a  part  of  the 
Zuni  Indian  Pueblo  and  Reservation, 
as  well  as  a  part  of  the  Navajo  In- 
dian Reservation,  are  located  in  this 
county. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  for 
McKinley  County  is  14.5  inches ;  nor- 
mal seasonal  precipitation  from  April 
to  September,  8.2  inches ;  normal  sea- 
sonal snowfall,  37.1  inches.  Mean 
annual  temperature,  51°;  mean  win- 
ter temperature,  33°,  and  mean  sum- 
mer temperature,  70°,  according  to 
statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
Fort  Wingate. 


—57— 

MORA  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910;  12,611;  county 
seat,  Mora;  acreage  open  to  entry 
under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Santa  Fe, 
surveyed,  92,823;  unsurveyed,  17,464. 
under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Clayton, 
surveye'd,  23,680;  unsurveyed,  none. 

Principal  towns :  Mora,  population 
817;  altitude,  7,200;  Wagon  Mound, 
population  815;  La  Cueva,  population 
461 ;  Watrous,  population  250 ;  Roy, 
population  350;  Mills,  population  es- 
timated at  350. 

Mora  County  is  situated  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  state,  and 
within  the  past  year,  of  1915,  there 
has  been  a  heavy  immigration  into 
this  county.  Some  large  tracts  of 
land  have  been  taken  up,  but  there 
still  remain  many  good  locations  on 
the  plains  and  along  the  eastern  and 
northern  boundaries  of  the  county. 
The  river  bottom  lands  have  been 
under  cultivation  for  a  good  many 
years,  and  have  long  since  been  taken 
up.  The  field  crops  in  this  county 
are  of  a  superior  quality,  and  the 
best  of  fruit  is  grown  on  the  valley 
lands.  Only  recently  has  Mora  coun- 
ty been  brought  to  notice  as  a  de- 
sirable location,  since  which  time  it 
has  developed  rapidly.  Irrigation  has 
been  by  private  enterprise,  but  the 
unirrigiated  lands  about  Roy,  Watrous 
and  Mills  have  proven  very  produc- 
tive, these  towns  being  in  a  section 
where  large  quantities  of  wheat,  corn 
and  barley  are  raised. 

For  years  this  county  has  been 
noted  for  its  cattle  industry,  and 
large  herds  of  cattle  and  sheep  have 
grazed  on  its  wide  ranges.  Part  of 
the  Pecos  National  Forest  is  located 
in  the  southwestern  corner  of  Mora 
County. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
this  county  is  18.6  inches ;  normal 
seasonal  precipitation,  from  April  to 
September,  14.9  inches ;  normal  sea- 
sonal snowfall,  20.3  inches ;  mean 
annual  temperature,  49° ;  mean  win- 
ter temperature,  33°,  and  mean  sum- 
mer temperature,  66°,  according  to 
statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 


—58— 

Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
Fort  Union. 

OTERO  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  7,069;  county 
seat,  Alamogordo;  acreage  open  to 
entry  under  the  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Roswell,  surveyed,  192,791 ;  unsurvey- 
ed,  696,076;  under  the  U.  S.  Land  Of- 
fice at  Las  Cruces,  surveyed,  1,158,- 
035;  unsurveyed,  470,597. 

Principal  towns :  Alamogordo,  pop- 
ulation 1,948;  altitude,  4.303;  Tularo- 
sa,  population  1,022. 

Otero  County  is  situated  on  the 
southern  border  of  the  state,  and  in 
this  county  there  is  a  very  large  acre- 
age open  to  entry,  though  in  the  ma- 
jority of  cases,  water  will  have  to  be 
developed  by  wells  or  by  storage  res- 
ervoirs, but  this  is  by  no  means  im- 
possible. Efforts  in  the  way  of  well 
drilling  for  water  for  irrigation  pur- 
poses have  proven  successful  already. 
The  lands  in  this  county  are  won- 
derfully productive  in  fruits,  veget- 
ables and  grains,  the  warm,  climatic 
conditions  being  conducive  to  ex- 
cellent results,  and  the  fruits  raised 
in  Otero  County  are  as  fine  as  can 
be  found  anywhere.  A  canning  fac- 
tory is  located  at  Alamogordo, 
peaches  and  pears  being  the  princi- 
pal products  used. 

There  are  promising  openings  for 
the  homesteader  along  the  line  of 
the  El  Paso  &  Southwestern  rail- 
road, which  runs  through  this  coun- 
ty frt>m  north  to  south,  and  the  re- 
sults attained  by  farmers  about  AJ- 
magordo,  Tularosa  and  La  Luz  prove 
conclusively  what  can  be  done  by 
systematic  and  energetic  endeavor. 

Tularosa  is  one  of  the  old  settle- 
ments and  has  become  better  known 
recently  as  a  very  desirable  farming 
and  fruit  growing  section.  Stock- 
raising  has  been,  and  will  continue 
to  be,  one  of  the  main  industries  of 
this  county.  Mining  in  the  Jaiilla 
and  Oro  Grande  camps  has  been  in 
operation  for  some  time,  and  ores  of 
gold,  silver  and  copper  of  a  high 
grade  have  been  found  in  sufficient 


—59— 

quantities  to  warrant  the  institution 
of  a  smelter. 

Alamogordo,  the  county  seat  and 
principal  town,  is  on  the  main  line 
.  of  the  El  Paso  &  Southwestern  rail- 
road and  is  a  delightful  little  city, 
with  excellent  schools.  The  New  Mex- 
ico Institution  for  the  Blind  is  located 
here.  A  branch  line  of  railroad  runs 
by  switch-back  up  into  the  moun- 
tains to  Cloudcroft,  a  well  known 
summer  resort  of  the  southwest. 

Tularosa,  the  next  town  in  size  and 
importance,  is  surrounded  by  an  ag- 
ricultural country,  as  yet  practically 
undeveloped,  but  with  irrigation  and 
dry-farming  methods  combined,  this 
part  of  the  county  will  advance  rap- 
idly in  point  of  productiveness. 

The  Mescalero  Apache  Indian  Res- 
ervation, and  the  Alamo  National 
Forest  are  located  in  Otero  County, 
and  one  of  the  greatest  natural  curi- 
osities in  the  state,  the  White  Sands, 
also  is  found  principally  in  this  coun- 
ty, just  west  of  Alamogordo.  These 
sands  are  the  result  of  wind  erosion 
in  the  gypsum  beds  that  abound  in 
that  section,  in  what  is  known  as 
the  Alkali  Flats ;  deep  depressions 
walled  with  gypsum  the  fine  crystals 
of  which  have  been  blown  by  storm 
winds  until  they  have  formed  im- 
mense dunes  of  white  sands,  wider 
in  some  places  than  in  others  and 
irregular  in  length,  but  the  area 
would  be  equivalent  to  a  rectangular 
figure  twelve  miles  wide  by  twenty- 
two  and  a  half  miles  long.  These  im- 
mense dunes  are  slowly  shifting,  it 
being  estimated  that  they  have  moved 
about  a  mile  in  twenty  years,  ac- 
cording to  the  report  of  the  United 
States  Geological  Survey. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Otero  County  is  11.3  inches;  normal 
seasonal  precipitation,  from  April  to 
September,  7.2  inches ;  normal  sea- 
sonal snowfall,  7.9  inches.  Mean  an- 
nual temperature,  61°;  mean  winter 
temperature,  43°,  and  mean  summer 
temperature,  78°,  according  to  statis- 
tics prepared  by  the  U.  S.  Weather 
Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from  figures  fur- 
nished by  the  station  at  Alamogordo. 


—60— 

QUAY  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  14,912;  county 
seat,  Tucumcari ;  acreage  open  to  en- 
try under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Tu- 
cumcari, surveyed,  174,189;  unsurvey- 
ed,  11,567;  under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Clayton,  surveyed,  12,800;  unsurvey- 
ed,  none. 

Principal  towns :  Tucumcari,  pop- 
ulation 2,526;  altitude,  4,185;;  Nara 
Visa,  population  500;  Montoya,  pop- 
ulation 500;  Bard  City,  population 
400. 

Quay  County,  situated  on  the  east- 
ern border  of  the  state,  has  made 
rapid  progress  during  the  past  few 
years,  since  1912.  It  is  one  of  the 
newer  counties,  but  has  long  been 
a  grazing  section  and  still  affords 
range  for  large  herds  of  cattle  and 
sheep.  Recently  there  has  been 
a  rush  of  immigration  to  this  county, 
and  hundreds  of  acres  have  been 
taken  up,  on  which  most  satisfactory 
crops  have  been  raised  without  ir- 
rigation, the  principal  ones  being 
wheat  and  broom  corn.  As  a  mat- 
ter of  fact,  the  stockman  is  now  giv- 
ing way  to  the  farmer,  and  the  latter 
is  turning  his  attention  to  the  raising 
of  milch  cows  that  are  producers  of 
butter  fat,  as  there  is  a  demand  for 
this  commodity  at  the  creameries  in 
Tucumcari.  At  its  present  rate  of 
immigration  Quay  County  will  soon 
be  one  of  the  most  populous  in  the 
state.  Several  private  colonization 
projects  have  attracted  notice  to  this 
part  of  the  state,  but  there  are  good 
lands  yet  to  be  had  in  this  county. 

Tucumcari,  only  about  twelve 
years  old,  already  is  a  thriving  little 
city  and  a  railroad  division  point, 
with  many  modern  conveniences,  and 
is  taking  a  place  among  the  most 
progressive  towns  of  the  state.  Two 
creameries  are  located  at  Tucumcari, 
which  are  supplied  from  surround- 
ing farms  and  dairies.  The  Chicago 
&  Rock  Island  and  El  Paso  &  South- 
western Railroads,  with  a  branch  to 
Dawson,  pass  this  point. 

The  Canadian  River  crosses  the 
northern  end  of  the  county. 


The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Quay  County  is  17.0  inches ;  normal 
seasonal  precipitation,  from  April  to 
September,  12.5  inches ;  normal  sea- 
sonal snowfall,  27.1  inches.  Mean 
annual  temperature,  59° ;  mean  win- 
ter temperature,  40°,  and  mean  sum- 
mer temperature,  77°,  according  to 
statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
Tucumcari. 

RIO  ARRIBA  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  16,6?4;  county- 
seat,  Tierra  Amarilla;  acreage  opeu 
to  entry  under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Santa  Fe,  surveyed,  463,203;  unsur- 
veyed,  201,011. 

Principal  towns :  Tierra  Amarilla, 
population  400;  altitude,  7,466;  Cha- 
ma,  population,  250;  Espanola,  popu- 
lation 400;  Chamita,  population  300. 

Rio  Arriba  County  is  situated  on 
the  northern  border  of  the  state,  and 
is  one  of  the  older  counties.  Many 
Spanish  land  grants  are  located  in 
this  county,  and  became  a  heritage 
from  the  original  owners,  but  there 
still  remain  large  tracts  open  to  en- 
try containing  desirable  lands  upon 
which  water  may  be  developed.  Ag- 
riculture is  carried  on  chiefly  along 
the  river  courses,  notably  the  Rio 
Grande  and  the  Chama,  which,  with 
their  tributaries,  afford  ample  water 
for  irrigation  and  other  purposes. 

Rio  Arriba  County  is  also  one  of 
the  big  stock  raising  sections  of  the 
state,  the  sheep  industry  having  been 
the  principal  one  for  years,  but  ag- 
riculture has  been  thoroughly  proven, 
and  the  fruit  grown  in  this  county 
is  of  the  finest  quality,  large  quan- 
tities being  shipped  from  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  county  to  outside 
markets. 

Irrigation  has  not  been  neglected, 
and  eastern  capital  has  invested 
heavily,  having  purchased  one  of  the 
most  prominent  land  grants  with  the 
intention  of  developing  water  for  ir- 
rigation and  subdividing  the  land  for 
settlement. 

The  only  railroad  passing  through 


—62— 

Rio  Arriba  County  is  the  Denver  & 
Rio  Grande  narrow  gauge,  which 
cuts  through  the  southeast  corner, 
thence  running  along  the  eastern  and 
northern  border.  Important  rail- 
road construction  is  under  consider- 
ation, which,  if  carried  out  along 
the  lines  proposed,  will  open  up  a 
wide  and  valuable  stretch  of  terri- 
tory in  this  county.  There  is  a  great 
deal  of  timber  in  Rio  Arriba  County, 
the  Jemez  National  Forest  and  the 
western  portion  of  the  Carson  Na- 
tional Forest  being  located  here. 
Croppings  of  minerals,  which  indi- 
cate large  deposits  of  coal,  copper 
and  silver,  make  mining  on  an  exten- 
sive scale  a  possibility  of  the  future. 

Chama  and  Chamita  are  on  the  line 
of  the  railroad,  but  the  county  seat, 
Tierra  Amarilla  is  reached  by  stage 
line  from  Chama,  about  fifteen  miles 
north. 

The  New  Mexico  Spanish-Ameri- 
can Normal  School  is  located  at  El 
Rito.  in  Rio  Arriba  County,  and  is 
reached  by  stage  from  La  Madera  on 
the  branch  line  of  the  Denver  &  Rio 
Grande  Railroad  running  from  Bar- 
ranca, a  station  on  the  main  line  of 
that  road,  or  by  private  conveyance 
from  other  stations  along  this  rail- 
road. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Rio  Arriba  County  is  22.3  inches ; 
normal  seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  11  inches;  nor- 
mal seasonal  snowfall,  138.5  inches; 
mean  annual  temperature,  44°  ;  mean 
winter  temperature,  25°,  and  mean 
summer  temperature  62°  according  to 
statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
Chama. 

The  great  amount  of  snowfall  g.iven 
in  this  report  comes  from  the  fact 
that  many  high  mountains  are  in  Rio 
Arriba  County,  and  the  annual  aver- 
age is  increased  by  the  heavy  snows 
in  these  high  ranges.  In  the  lower 
valleys,  however,  the  snowfall  is  no 
greater  than  in  many  other  places  in 
the  state. 


ROOSEVELT  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  12,064;  county 
seat,  Portales.  Acreage  open  to  en- 
try under  the  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Ft.  Sumner,  surveyed,  98,306;  unsur- 
veyed,  none. 

Principal  towns :  Portales,  popu- 
lation 1,292;  altitude,  4,000;  Elida, 
population  227. 

Roosevelt  County  is  situated  on  the 
eastern  border  of  New  Mexico,  and 
the  rapidity  with  which  it  has  grown 
in  the  past  few  years  has  been  one 
of  the  remarkable  features  in  the 
development  of  the  state.  In  for- 
mer years  its  lands,  together  with 
other  sections  in  that  locality,  were 
regarded  as  fit  only  for  grazing,  and 
immense  herds  of  cattle  and  sheep 
fed  on  the  rich  native  grasses  that 
grow  luxuriantly  on  its  wide  plains. 
But  with  the  advent  of  the  farmer 
the  aspect  of  the  country  has  chang- 
ed. The  homeseeker  has  become  the 
home-maker,  and  has  so  developed 
the  land  that  today  it  is  a  thriving 
agricultural  region  as  well  as  a  graz- 
ing section.  On  many  of  the  home- 
steads water  has  been  found  at  depths 
that  make  pumping  possible,  and  may 
be  operated  either  by  gasolene  en- 
gines or  by  wind-mills. 

At  Portales  there  is  a  central 
pumping  plant,  opening  a  large  area 
to  irrigation,  giving  the  district  a 
most  important  project  for  develop- 
ment. Nine  years  ago  the  territory 
comprising  Roosevelt  County  did  not 
contain  more  than  three  hundred 
people.  Today  it  is  the  home  of 
many  contented  farmers,  and  it  is 
worthy  of  special  mention  that  at 
the  New  Mexico  State  Fair,  held  at 
Albuquerque,  in  October  of  1915, 
Roosevelt  County  carried  off  first 
honors  for  its  splendid  agricultural, 
horticultural  and  general  county  ex- 
hibit. 

Portales,  the  county  seat,  is  a  grow- 
ing, town  and  enjoys  a  substantial 
and  steady  commercial  activity.  It 
affords  a  good  market  for  the  prod- 
ucts of  the  surrounding  farms,  some 
of  which  are  growing  vegetables  and 


grains  without  irrigation.  A 'cream- 
ery recently  has  been  established  at 
Portales. 

The  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa 
Fe  Railway,  running  south  from  Clo- 
vis,  passes  through  the  eastern  por- 
tion of  Roosevelt  County,  and  affords 
shipping  facilities  for  the  surround- 
ing sections,  while  the  Belen  Cut-off, 
of  the  same  railway,  passes  along  the 
northern  part  of  the  county,  giving 
an  outlet  to  markets  for  products 
raised  in  that  section. 

Its  lands  are  undulating  plains.  At 
Elida  there  is  a  dement  plaster 
plant  which  uses  the  gypsum  found 
in  this  county. 

The.  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Roosevelt  county  is  20.0  inches;  nor- 
mal seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  15.1  inches;  nor- 
mal seasonal  snowfall,  16.8  inches; 
mean  annual  temperature,  56° ;  mean 
winter  temperature,  38°,  and  mean 
summer  temperature,  74°,  according 
to  statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
Portales,  and  covering  a  period  of 
seven  years  only. 

SANDOVAL  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  8,579;  county 
seat,  Bernalillo.  Acreage  open  to  en- 
try under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Santa 
Fe,  surveyed,  337,230;  unsurveyed, 
339,675. 

Principal  towns  :  Bernalillo,  popu- 
lation, 1,000;  altitude,  5,260;  Algo- 
dones,  population  estimated  at  about 
300. 

Sandoval  County  is  situated  in  the 
north  central  part  of  the  state,  and 
is  one  of  the  new  counties,  and  its  re- 
sources have  not,  as  yet,  been  fully 
exploited,  but  there  is  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  it  can  be  developed  into 
one  of  the  leading  agricultural  and 
horticultural  sections  of  the  state. 
The  Rio  Grande  flows  through  the 
southeastern  portion  of  the  county 
and  the  Jemez  river  cuts  across  the 
central  and  southeastern  part,  and 


—65— 

the  Puerco  river  through  the  west- 
ern, while  there  are  a  number  of 
small  tributaries  to  these  rivers  that 
help  to  water  the  lands  of  the  coun- 
ty. But  all  of  the  river  valley  lands 
are  under  private  ownership,  and 
there  are  seven  Indian  Pueblos  in 
this  county  which  take  up  consider- 
able good  land. 

However,  there  are  some  good  sec- 
tions of  land  in  the  western  part  of 
the  county  that  are  open  to  entry, 
where  water  may  be  developed,  and 
when  this  is  done  crops  of  many 
kinds  can  be  grown  to  advantage.  Al- 
ready grape  growing  and  wine  mak- 
ing are  leading  industries  of  this 
county,  some  of  the  finest  grapes 
raised  in  New  Mexico  being  grown 
in  Sandoval  County.  Cattle  and  sheep 
are  another  profitable  industry  of 
this  county,  which  has  been  a  big 
stock  country  for  many  years. 

Also  mining  is  of  some  importance 
as  an  industry  in  this  county,  espe- 
cialyl  in  the  Cochiti  Mining  Dis- 
trict where  copper  and  gold  have 
been  produced.  At  Hagan  important 
coal  fields  have  been  located;  also 
there  are  strong  evidences  of  oil  and 
prospecting  for  this  fluid  is  being 
done  extensively. 

Bernalillo,  the  county  seat,  is  one 
of  the  old  towns  of  the  state,  and 
many  of  the  prominent  men  of  ear- 
lier times  made  their  hospitable 
homes  at  this  place.  The  main  line 
of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe 
Railway  runs  through  the  southeast- 
ern corner  of  Sandoval  County,  af- 
fording shipping  and  transportation 
facilities  for  that  section,  but  the 
balance  of  the  county  is  undeveloped 
in  that  regard. 

Some  of  the  medicinal  hot  springs, 
to  which  reference  ha^  hereinhefore 
been  made,  are  located  in  this  coun- 
try, those  in  the  Jemez  mountains  be- 
ing especially  well  known  for  their 
curative  qualities.  Also,  there  are 
some  ancient  cliff  dwellings  found 
in  this  county. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Sandoval  County  is  18.9  inches;  nor- 


—66— 

mal  seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  11.9  inches;  nor- 
mal seasonal  snowfall,  40.0  inches ; 
mean  annual  temperature,  50° ;  mean 
winter  temperature,  32°,  and  mean 
summer  temperature,  67°,  according 
to  statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
Jemez  Springs,  and  covering  a  period 
of  five  years  only. 

SAN  JUAN  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  8,504;  county 
seat,  Aztec.  Acreage  open  to  entry 
under  the  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  San- 
ta Fe,  surveyed,  807,272;  unsurveyed, 
495,914. 

Principal  towns,  Aztec,  population 
500;  altitude,  5,590;  Farmington,  pop- 
ulation 800. 

San  Juan  County  is  situated  in  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  state,  and 
probably  there  is  no  county  in  New 
Mexico  possessed  of  more  natural 
resources.  Its  great  difficulty  has 
been,  and  still  is,  a  lack  of  adequate 
shipping  facilities,  its  only  railroad 
outlet  being  the  Denver  &  Rio  Grande 
line  running  down  from  Durango, 
Colorado,  and  terminating  at  Farm- 
ington, necessitating*  the  hauling  of 
produce  and  the  driving  of  stock  a 
long  distance  to  the  shipping  points. 
It  is  an  especially  well  watered 
county,  the  San  Juan  river  flowing 
from  east  to  west  across  the  north- 
ern part  of  it,  with  Las  Animas 
and  La  Plata  rivers  as  its  principal 
tributaries. 

The  Navajo  Indian  reservation 
takes  in  a  considerable  portion  of 
San  Juan  County,  and  the  Southern 
Ute  Indian  reservation  occupies  a 
small  section  in  the  north.  All  of  the 
coal  used  at  the  Navajo  Indian 
Agency,  at  Shiprock.  is  obtained 
from  the  deposits  on  the  reservation  ; 
and  all  of  the  lumber  used  is  taken 
from  the  forests  of  the  reservation. 

There  are  coal  deposits  throughout 
the  county,  but  especially  along  the 
course  of  the  San  Juan  river.  The 


-67— 

valley  lands  along  this  river  are 
known  as  the  San  Juan  Basin,  and 
they  produce  some  of  the  finest  fruit 
raised  in  New  Mexico.  The  apples 
and  peaches  grown  in  this  section 
are  unexcelled. 

Much  wheat  and  other  grains  are 
produced  in  this  county,  and  there  is 
a  flour  mill  near  the  boundary  line 
of  the  Navajo  reservation,  that  util- 
izes local  wheat  for  its  entire  output 
of  flour,  which  is  sold  to  the  Indians 
and  not  shipped  out  of  the  county. 
With  better  transportation  facilities 
there  would  be  a  splendid  opportun- 
ity for  such  industries  in  this  coun- 
ty, as  the  yield  of  grain  is  very  heavy. 

Stock  raising  is  another  leading  in- 
dustry of  this  county,  most  of  the 
marketable  stock  being  shipped  into 
Colorado  and  to  eastern  points. 

While  the  valley  lands  have  been 
taken  up,  there  are  thousands  of 
acres  available  on  the  mesas  where 
grains  of  all  kinds  can  be  grown. 
Vegetables  and  alfalfa  also  are  staple 
crops,  and  with  irrigation  produce 
abundantly. 

Several  railway  projects  are  un- 
der consideration,  which,  if  carried 
through,  will  give  San  Juan  County 
a  greater  outlet  for  its  products. 
Even  under  the  present  adverse 
conditions,  as  high  as  $1,500  an  acre 
has  been  realized  from  irrigated  or- 
chards in  the  San  Juan  Basin,  which 
will  give  some  idea  of  its  possibil- 
ities with  better  shipping  facilities. 

Its  coal  deposits  have  been  exam- 
ined by  government  experts  and 
pronounced  amonsp  the  most  exten- 
sive in  the  United  States,  and  of  a 
high  grade. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation 
in  San  Juan  County  is  9.0  inches ; 
normal  seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  5.0  inches;  nor- 
mal seasonal  snowfall,  16.5  inches, 
mean  annual  temperature.  51°; 
mean  winter  temperature,  30°,  and 
mean  summer  temperature,  71°,  ac- 
cording, to  statistics  prepared  by 
the  U.  S.  Weather  Bureau  at  Santa 


-68— 

Fe,    from    figures    furnished    by    the 
station    at    Bloomfield. 


SAN  MIGUEL  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  22,930;  county 
seat,  Las  Vegas ;  acreage  open  to 
entry  under  the  U.  S.  Land  Office 
at  Santa  Fe,  surveyed,  260,037;  un- 
surveyed,  102,435;  under  the  U.  S. 
Land  Office  at  Tucumcari,  sur- 
veyed, 8,206,  unsurveyed,  5,753;  un- 
der the  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Clay- 
ton, surveyed,  26,800;  unsurveyed, 
none. 

Principal  towns :  Las  Vegas,  pop- 
ulation, 3,179;  altitude,  6,391;  East 
Las  Vegas,  population,  3,755;  Rowe, 
population,  200;  Las  Animas,  popu- 
lation 200;  San  Miguel,  population 
estimated  at  about  200. 

San  Miguel  County  is  situated  in 
the  northeasterly  part  of  the  state, 
and  is  one  of  the  oldest  counties  in 
New  Mexico.  The  more  desirable 
lands  along  the  water  courses  have 
long  since  been  taken  up,  but  there 
are  some  other  lands  in  this  county 
that  offer  promising)  opportunities 
to  the  homeseeker.  There  are  irri- 
gation projects  in  contemplation 
which  will  be  the  means  of  reclaim- 
ing thousands  of  acres  of  fertile 
lands. 

SanMiguel  County  has  long  been 
a  prominent  grazing  section  of  the 
state,  and  many  fortunes  have  been 
made  from  sheep  and  cattle  raised 
in  thrs  county,  but  much  of  this 
grazing  territory  will  eventually 
be  converted  into  irrigated  farms, 
while  some  of  it  is  available  for 
dry  farming. 

There  are  coal  deposits  here,  es- 
pecially in  the  vicinity  of  Tecolote. 
Rociada  and  Mineral  Hill,  which 
doubtless  will  bring  wealth  to  some 
one  in  the  near  future,  and  the  for- 
ests of  timber  are  offering  oppor- 
tunities for  the  establishment  of 
lumber  mills. 

The  Pecos  National  Forest  takes 
in  part  of  the  western  portion  of 
San  Miguel  County,  and  the  Pecos 


—69— 

River  has  its  source  in  that  National 
Forest,  and  also  the  Gallinas  River, 
one  of  its  main  tributaries,  rises 
there,  while  the  Red  River  coming 
down  from  the  north  waters  the 
eastern  part  of  the  county.  Be- 
sides these,  there  are  many  small 
streams  tributary  to  the  larger 
ones. 

Las  Vegas,  the  county  seat,  is  one 
of  the  most  attractive  cities  in  the 
state.  Located  on  the  main  line  of 
the  Atchison,  Topeka*  &  Santa  Fe 
Railway,  which  runs  through  the 
western  part  of  this  county,  the  lit- 
tle city  is  modern  in  many  respects, 
with  electric  street  car  lines  and  a 
fine  school  system..  It  is  division 
headquarters  for  the  Santa  Fe  rail- 
way. Las  Vegas  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  attractive  health  resorts 
of  New  Mexico.  The  State  Normal 
University  and  the  State  Asylum 
for  the  Insane  are  located  at  this 
city. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation 
in  San  Miguel  county  is  18.6  inches  ; 
normal  seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  14.2  inches ; 
normal  seasonal  snowfall,  28.4 
inches ;  mean  annual  temperature, 
50° ;  mean  winter  temperature,  33°, 
and  mean  summer  temperature,  67°. 
according  to  statistics  prepared  by 
the  U.  S.  Weather  Bureau  at  Santa 
Fe,  from  figures  furnished  by  the 
station  at  Las  Vegas. 

SANTA  FE  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  14,770;  county 
seat,  Santa  Fe,  which  also  is  the 
capital  of  New  Mexico.  Acreage 
open  to  entry  under  the  U.  S.  Land 
Office  at  Santa  Fe,  surveyed,  185,- 
085;  unsurveyed,  113,160. 

Principal  cities  and  towns:  Santa 
Fe,  population  5,072;  altitude,  6,- 
998;  Santa  Cruz,  population,  417; 
Cerrillos,  population,  676;  Madrid, 
population,  400. 

Santa  Fe  County  is  situated  in  the 
north  central  part  of  the  State  of 
New  Mexico,  and  is  watered  by  nu- 


—70- 

merous  rivers  and  streams,  the 
principal  one  being  the  Rio  Grande, 
which  cuts  through  the  northwest 
corner,  but  there  are  many  lesser 
streams  flowing  through  the  county 
which  are  tributary,  either  directly 
or  indirectly,  to  the  Rio  Grande,  and 
which  contribute  in  a  greater  de- 
gree to  the  productiveness  of  the 
land  than  does  the  larger  river,  be- 
cause of  their  availability  for  irriga- 
tion purposes,  although  a  portion  of 
the  bottom  .lands  along  the  Rio 
Grande,  located  in  Santa  Fe  Coun- 
ty, are  extremely  fertile,  and  have 
been  cultivated  for  many  years. 
The  waters  of  this  river  constitute 
a  magnificent  power,  as  yet  not 
utilized,  as  they  rush  through  the 
deep,  rugged  walls  of  the  White 
Rock  Canon,  and  some  day  they 
will  be  harnessed  to  machinery  and 
turn  the  wheels  of  commerce.  Al- 
ready a  project  has  been  started  for 
the  purpose  of  controlling  this  tre- 
mendous force. 

The  lesser  streams  include  the 
Santa  Cruz,  the  Santa  Clara,  Rio 
Pojoaque,  or  Nambe,  Rio  Tesque, 
Canoncito,  Santa  Fe  and  Gallisteo, 
all  of  which  have  settlements  along 
their  banks  using  the  waters  for 
irrigation  and  domestic  purposes. 
The  lands  adjacent  to  these  streams 
are  extremely  fertile,  and  the  fruits 
and  vegetables  produced  by  the 
farmers  of  Santa  Fe  County  are 
among  the  best  in  the  state. 

The  climate  of  this  county  is  a 
salubrious  one,  the  winters  not  be- 
ing excessively  cold,  although  there 
is  considerable  snow  in  the  moun- 
tains, and  a  lighter  fall  in  the  val- 
leys, while  the  summer  and  autumn 
months  are  delightfully  cool  and 
pleasant.  Thunder  showers  are 
frequent  during  the  summers.  but 
these  only  tend  to  clear  the  atmo- 
sphere and  keep  the  crops  growing. 
The  nights  are  always  cool  and  rest- 
ful. 

With  a  good  irrigation  project 
successfully  launched  in  Santa  Fe 
County,  it  would  open  up  to  settle- 


—71— 

ment  a  vast  amount  of  land  that 
now  is  unimproved,  and  the  farmer 
would  find  that  all  kinds  of  cereals, 
alfalfa,  deciduous  fruits  and  practi- 
cally every  kind  of  ordinary  vege- 
table can  be  grown  profitably  here. 
Wherever  tried,  these  crops  have 
been  raised  in  this  county,  and 
there  are  many  fine  fruit  orchards 
that  are  paying  investments  to 
their  owners. 

The  poultry  business  is  another 
industry  that  thrives  in  this  county, 
and  there  is  a  constant  demand  for 
home-grown  products  in  the  mar- 
kets of  Santa  Fe,  so  that  the  truck 
farmer  is  assured  of  a  living  from 
his  land  from  the  beginning,  as  most 
of  the  foodstuffs  consumed  in  the 
city  of  Santa  Fe  are  shipped  in 
from  points  outside  of  the  state. 

Three  railroads  traverse  the  coun- 
ty, the  Denver  &  Rio  Grande,  the 
New  Mexico  Central,  and  the  At- 
chison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe.  A  short 
line  runs  from  Cerrillos  to  the  coal 
mines  at  Madrid. 

Stock  raising  is  a  big  industry  in 
this  county,  one  of  the  largest  cat- 
tle ranches  in  the  state  being)  lo- 
cated in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county,  while  sheep  and  goats  range 
on  the  mesas  and  hills. 

Santa  Fe  County  is  one  of  the 
richest  mineral  producers  in  the 
southwest.  Gold,  silver,  lead,  zinc, 
copper,  fireclay  and  turquoise  are 
found  in  great  quantities,  while 
coal  has  been  mined  in  different 
sections  for  years.  The  Cerrillos 
coal  fields  of  this  country  produce 
the  highest  grade  of  anthracite 
coal,  according  to  the  United  States 
Geological  Report,  Bulletin  531-J, 
issued  by  the  Department  of  the 
Interior  in  1913,  and  there  is  much 
mineral  country  in  the  mountains 
that  has  been  untouched. 

Santa  Fe,  the  capital  of  the  state, 
is  full  of  historic  interest.  It  was 
founded  by  the  Spaniards  some  time 
between  the  latter  part  of  April, 
1605,  and  the  early  part  of  1608,  the 
exact  date  not  being  known,  and 


—72— 

is,  therefore,  one  of  the  oldest  cit- 
ies in  the  United  States,  being  sec- 
ond only  to  St.  Augustine,  Florida. 
Since  its  foundation  it  has  been  the 
capital  of  New  Mexico,  which  orig- 
inally included  a  much  larger  terri- 
tory than  the  present  boundaries  of 
the  state.  The  city  is  situated  in  a 
natural  basin  among  the  foothills 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  to  the 
northeast  rise  the  beautiful  peaks 
of  the  Sangre  de  Cristo  range, 
where  the  Santa  Fe  River  has  its 
source,  furnishing  pure,  cold  water 
to  the  city  through  which  it  flows  on 
its  way  to  join  the  Rio  Grande.  The 
old  Plaza  of  Santa  Fe,  around 
which  many  of  the  business  houses 
of  the  city  are  built,  and  on  which 
faces  the  ancient  Palace  of  the  Gov- 
ernors, now  housing  archaeological 
and  historical  museums,  is  one  of 
the  historic  landmarks  of  the 
southwest.  Santa  Fe  has  several 
good  hotels,  and  many  important 
public  institutions  are  located  there, 
among  them  being,  besides  the  capi- 
tol  building,  a  Federal  building 
where  several  government  officials 
have  their  offices,  including;  the 
surveyor-general  for  New  Mexico, 
the  register  and  the  receiver  of  the 
United  States  Land  Office.  The  court 
rooms  of  the  United  States  District 
Court  also  are  in  this  building.  The 
state  branch  of  the  U.  S.  Weather 
Bureau,  and  a  branch  of  the  Fores- 
try Department  are  located  in  the 
city,  and  the  State  Institution  for 
the-  Deaf  and  Dumb,  as  well  as  the 
State  Penitentiary,  and  the  U.  S. 
Indian  School,  are  located  just  out- 
side the  city  limits. 

The  Pecos  National  Forest  takes 
in  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
county,  and  the  Pajarito  National 
Park,  in  which  are  located  many  of 
the  ruins  of  ancient  cliff  dwellings, 
occupies  a  portion  of  the  county  west 
of  the  Rio  Grande.  There  are  five 
Indian  pueblos  in  the  county,  be- 
sides ruins  of  many  others,  and  al- 
together the  county  of  Santa  Fe  is 
full  of  historic  interest  and  scenic 


—73— 

beauty.     Its  hunting  and  fishing  pre- 
serves are  unsurpassed. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation 
for  Santa  Fe  County  is  14.5  inches ; 
normal  seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  9.7  inches;  nor- 
mal seasonal  snowfall,  ?8.7  inches ; 
mean  annual  temperature,  49°  ;  mean 
winter  temperature,  30°,  and  mean 
summer  temperature,  67°,  according 
to  statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe. 

SIERRA  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  3,536;  county 
seat,  Hillsboro.  Acreage  open  to 
entry  under  the  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Las  Cruces,  surveyed,  1,377,944;  un- 
surveyed,  216,300. 

Principal  towns:  Hillsboro,  popu- 
lation, 400;  altitude,  5,224;  Elephant 
Butte,  population,  800;  Engle,  popula- 
tion, 300;  Las  Palomas,  population. 
300. 

Sierra  County  is  situated  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  state  and 
its  predominating  industries  are  min- 
ing and  stock  raising.  Much  of  the 
land  is  of  a  mineral  bearing  charac- 
ter, and  not  subject  to  agriculture. 
The  really  available  lands  for  this 
purpose  are  located  in  the  valleys 
and  along  the  river  bottoms,  and 
have  long  since  been  taken  up.  There 
are  quarter  sections  still  remaining 
but  they  should  be  carefully  investi- 
gated before  settling  upon.  There 
are  lands  in  these  tracts  that  would 
raise  fine  crops  of  grain,  fruit  and 
vegetables  if  water  were  brought  on- 
to the  land.  In  the  eastern  part  of 
the  county  much  of  the  land  will 
eventually  be  brought  under  irriga- 
tion from  the  Elephant  Butte  Dam 
located  in  that  vicinity. 

Hillsboro,  the  county  seat,  is 
reached  by  a  stage  line  running  from 
Lake  Valley,  the  terminus  of  a 
branch  line  of  the  Santa  Fe  railway, 
about  twelve  miles  distant,  and  is  a 
thriving  mining  center. 

In  favored  sections  of  this  county 
English  walnuts  are  grown,  and  with 
care  and  cultivation  this  crop  could 


—74— 

be  made  very  productive  and  profit- 
able. The  Datil  National  Forest,  and 
the  Gila  National  Forest  take  in  a 
large  section  of  the  western  part  of 
'Sierra  County.  Several  streams  of 
water  are  tributary  to  the  Rio 
Grande,  which  flows  through  the 
central  part.  The  only  railroad  in 
the  county  is  the  branch  line  referred 
to,  and  therefore  its  shipping  and 
transportation  facilities  are  deficient: 
nevertheless,  there  is  a  flour  and  feed 
mill  located  at  Arrey,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  another  one 
at  Montecillo,  on  the  Alamosa  River, 
each  using  local  grains  for  its  output 
and  depending  on  home  consumption 
to  take  its  product. 

At  the  New  Mexico  State  Fair,  held 
at  Albuquerque,  in  October  1915  Si- 
erra County  exhibited  apples  weigh- 
ing 29  ounces;  corn  grown  in  90  days 
on  irrigated  lands,  with  three  ears  to 
the  stalk;  as  well  as  fine  Irish  pota- 
toes and  a  high  grade  of  English 
walnuts. 

Its  principal  mineral  productions 
art:  gold,  silver,  copper,  lead  and  zinc. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Sierra  County  is  12.3  inches ;  normal 
seasonal  precipitation,  from  April 
to  September,  7.1  inches;  normal  sea- 
sonal snowfall,  9.2  inches;  mean  an- 
nual temperature,  58°  ;  mean  winter 
temperature,  45°,  and  mean  summer 
temperature,  75°,  according  to  statis- 
tics prepared  by  the  U.  S.  Weather 
Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from  figures 
furnished  by  the  station  at  Hillsboro. 

SOCORRO  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  14,761 ;  county 
seat,  Socorro:  acreage  open  to  entry 
under  the  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Santa 
Fe,  surveyed,  742,913;  unsurveyed, 
58,834;  under  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Las  Cruces,  surveyed,  1,377,944;  unsur- 
veyed, 216,300. 

Principal  towns :  Socorro,  the 
county  seat,  population,  1,560;  alti- 
tude, 4,582;  Magdalena,  population, 
1226;  Kelly,  population  1,015;  San 
Marcial,  population,  695;  Carthage, 
population,  448;  Mogollon,  popula- 


—75—' 

tion,  779;  San  Antonio,  population, 
434.  The  altitude  of  these  towns  is 
about  that  of  Socorro,  excepting 
Kelly,  which  is  7,500  feet,  and  Mag- 
dale.na,  6,552. 

Socorro  County  is  situated  on  the 
western  border  of  the  state  and  ex- 
tends to  the  central  part,  being  the 
largest  county  in  the  state.  Many 
years  agio  it  was  locally  celebrated  as 
a  grape-growing  region,  its  extensive 
vineyards  producing  a  most  delicious 
quality  of  fruit,  and  this  industry 
could  readily  be  revived.  It  is  one  of 
the  banner  stock  raising  sections  of 
the  state,  thousands  of  cattle  and 
sheep  grazing  on  its  wide  ranges. 

The  Rio  Grande  flows  across  the 
eastern  part  of  the  county,  and  is 
fed  by  several  smaller  streams  which 
have  their  sources  in  the  surrouding 
mountains.  The  _Datil  National  For- 
est takes  in  a  large  portion  of  the 
county.  Like  most  of  the  other 
counties  in  New  Mexico,  the  valley 
lands  along,  the  water  courses,  espe- 
cially those  of  the  Rio  Grande,  were 
taken  up  years  ago,  but  there  is 
abundant  room  for  settlers  on  lands 
that  are  awaiting  development,  more 
particularly  in  the  western  part  of 
the  county,  and  in  many  sections  of 
this  land  the  water  necessary  for  ir- 
rigation and  domestic  purposes  would 
not  be  difficult  to  reach. 

Socorro  County  is  a  heavy  mineral 
producer,  its  principal  output  being 
?old  silver,  copper,  lead  and  zinc.  Its 
best  known  mining  districts  are  Mag- 
dalena,  Kelly,  Mogollon,  Water  Can- 
on and  Socorro,  though  new  discov- 
eries are  being  made  from  time  to 
time. 

Socorro,  the  county  seat,  is  on  the 
main  line  of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  & 
Santa  Fe  Railway,  running  south 
from  Albuquerque,  with  a  branch  line 
to  Magdalena.  This  is  also  an  ex- 
tensive shipping  point  for  wool,  sheep 
and  cattle.  There  is  also  a  flour  mill 
at  Socorro,  which  indicates  the  pro- 
ductiveness of  the  county  in  grains. 

The  New  Mexico  School  of  Mines 
is  located  at  Socorro. 


—76— 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  of 
Socorro  County  is  10.8  inches;  nor- 
mal seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  6.7  inches ;  nor- 
mal seasonal  snowfall,  9.0  inches; 
mean  annual  temperature,  58°;  mean 
winter  temperature,  39°,  and  mean 
summer  temperature,  76°,  according 
to  statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
Socorro. 

TAGS  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  12,008;  county 
seat,  Taos;  acreage  open  to  entry 
under  the  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Santa 
Fe,  surveyed,  253,754;  unsurveyed, 
224,834. 

Principal  towns :  Taos,  population, 
521;  altitude,  6,950;  Costilla,  popula- 
tion, 200;  Cuesta,  incorrectly  spelled 
Questa,  population,  557. 

Taos  County  is  situated  on  the 
northern  border  of  the  state  of  New 
Mexico,  and  is  one  of  the  best  wat- 
ered sections  of  the  state.  The  Rio 
Grande  cuts  through  its  center  from 
north  to  south,  and  innumerable  trib- 
utaries to  this  stream  flow  from  the 
mountains  across  the  valleys,  afford- 
ing abundant  water  for  irrigation  and 
domestic  uses  for  the  numerous  set- 
tlements along  their  banks.  Taos 
county  is  one  of  several  others  in 
the  state  where  large  land  grants 
have  held  back  its  settlement  by 
homeseekers,  as  some  of  these  lands 
have  been  undivided,  and  others  have 
been  entangled  with  legal  complica- 
tions, while  those  along  the  water 
courses  are  owned  by  people  whose 
ancestors  settled  there  generations 
ago,  but  there  are  still  inviting  fields 
for  settlers.  The  lands  open  to  sale 
or  lease  are  worthy  of  investigation. 
With  irrigation  systems  inaugurated, 
such  as  are  now  under  contempla- 
tion, there  would  be  alluring  oppor- 
tunities for  purchase  either  from 
«ettlers  owning  lands  or  from  corpo- 
rations controlling  them.  This  coun- 
ty is  a  big  grain  producer,  and  when 


—77— 

Fremont  cut  his  path  westward  he 
sent  to  Taos  for  his  grain  supplies,  it 
being  then  known  as  the  "Granary  of 
the  West."  It  still  supplies  all  the 
grain  used  in  a  large  flour  mill  at 
Faos,  but  lack  of  adequate  shipping 
facilities  tc  export  the  crops  that  are 
raised  in  this  county  hinder  its  ad- 
vancement agriculturally  and  horti- 
culturally  In  the  Red  River  and  Ca- 
bresto  Creek  valleys,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  county,  all  kinds  of  grain, 
fruit  arid  vegetables,  as  well  as  live- 
stock, are  raised  and  taken  to  a  rail- 
road station  in  southern  Colorado  for 
shipment,  thus  giving  credit  to  that 
state  tor  products  grown  in  New 
Mexico.  However,  a  new  wagon  road 
has  recently  been  constructed  from 
rhe  Red  River  valley  south  to  the 
Arroyo  Hondo  valley,  which  will 
give  an  outlet  for  these  shipments  at 
a  railroad  station  in  New  Mexico,  on 
the  Denver  &  Rio  Grande  line. 

Taos  County  is  rich  in  gold  and 
silver,  and  contains  many  active  min- 
ing camps  with  a  large  mineral  ter- 
ritory still  undeveloped.  It  is  also 
one  of  the  important  stock  counties 
of  the  state,  sheep,  cattle,  hogs  and 
goats  being  its  principal  shipments 
of  livestock. 

The  Carson  National  Forest  takes 
in  a  considerable  part  of  the  county, 
and  it  is  a  fine  hunting  and  fishing 
country,  with  a  most  delightful  cli- 
mate, healthful  and  invigorating  at 
all  seasons  of  the  year. 

Taos,  the  county  seat,  the  full 
name  of  which  is  Don  Fernando  de 
Taos,  is  reached  by  automobile,  eith- 
er from  Taos  Junction,  on  the  line  of 
the  Denver  &  Rio  Grande  railroad, 
about  25  miles  distant,  or  from  Ute 
Park,  the  present  terminus  of  the 
St.  Louis,  Rocky  Mountain  &  Pacific 
railroad  -running  into  the  park  from 
Raton. 

The  country  surrounding  the  town 
of  Taos  is  of  rare  beauty,  its  moun- 
tain scenery  being  unexcelled  in  the 
state.  About  four  miles  south  of  the 


-78- 

town  is  the  settlement  known  as.  Los 
Ranches  de  Taos,  at  which  place  is 
located  a  very  old  mission  church, 
built  by  the  early  Catholic  mission- 
aries to  this  country.  And  about 
three  miles  north  of  the  town  of 
Taos  is  the  ancient  Indian  pueblo  of 
Taos,  the  best  preserved  of  the  com- 
munal buildings  in  the  state,  and  well 
worth  a  trip  to  that  place  just  to 
view  these  ancient  structures.  The 
people  of  this  pueblo  are  an  especi- 
ally strong,  virile  tribe,  giving  their 
attention  to  the  successful  growing 
of  livestock,  and  farming  their  exten- 
sive and  fertile  lands. 

There  are  many  historic  relics  in 
and  about  the  town  of  Taos,  as  well 
as  in  this  ancient  Indian  pueblo, 
where  still  may  be  seen  the  ruins  of 
the  old  Spanish  church  that  was  de- 
stroyed by  American  soldiers  in  1847. 
The  former  home  of  Kit  Carson,  in 
the  town  of  Taos,  is  now  owned  by 
the  Masonic  Order  of  New  Mexico, 
with  a  vriew  to  preserving  it  as  a 
landmark  of  the  state.  The  grave  of 
that  intrepid  soldier  is  in  the  ceme- 
tery at  Taos. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Taos  County  is  12.7  inches ;  normal 
seasonal  precipitation,  from  April  to 
September,  8.0  inches;  normal  sea- 
sonal snowfall,  30.6  inches.  Mean  an- 
nual temperature,  48° ;  mean  winter 
temperature,  28°,  and  mean  summer 
temperature,  67°,  according  to  statis- 
tics prepared  by  the  U.  S.  Weather 
Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from  figures 
furnished  by  the  station  at  Taos. 

TORRANCE  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  10,119;  county 
seat,  Estancia;  acreage  open  to  en- 
try under  the  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Roswell,  surveyed,  147,442;  unsurvey- 
ed,  none.  Under  the  U.  S.  Land  Of- 
fice at  Santa  Fe,  surveyed,  450,658; 
unsurveyed,  147,840. 

Principal  towns :  Estancia,  popula- 
tion, 517;  altitude,  6,177;  Willard, 
population,  450;  Mountainair,  popu- 
lation, 350;  Moriarty,  population,  250. 


—79— 

Torrance  County  is  situated  in  the 
central  part  of  the  state  of  New  Mex- 
ico, and  has  long  been  recognized  as 
one  of  the  principal  grazing  sections 
of  the  state.  In  certain  portions  of 
the  county  alkali  has  hindered  its 
progress,  and  lack  of  water  has  been 
another  drawback,  though  the  fact 
that  it  is  such  a  fine  grazing  country 
indicates  that  the  soil  is  fertile  and 
with  water  for  irrigation  it  might  be 
developed  into  a  more  productive  lo- 
cality. 

Owing  to  the  large  amount  of  acre- 
age open  to  entry  in  this  county  the 
state  engineer  has  been  authorized 
to  sink  three  wells  with  a  view  of 
ascertaining  the  depth  necessary  to 
go  in  order  to  reach  a  flow  of  water 
sufficent  for  irrigation  and  domes- 
tic purposes,  but  as  yet  only  prelim- 
inary work  on  this  project  has  been 
accomplished. 

Forage  crops  have  been  raised  with 
some  degree  of  success  without  irri- 
gation, but  as  a  rule  dry  farming  is 
not  successful  in  this  county'.  Salt 
is  the  prevailing  mineral  found  in 
this  section  of  the  state.  Coal  also 
has  been  found  in  limited  quantities, 
but  has  not  been  mined  extensively. 

The  Manzano  National  Forest  takes 
in  the  western  end  of  the  county,  and 
the  Lincoln  National  Forest  a  por- 
tion of  the  southern  end.  The  New 
Mexico  Central  railroad  runs  through 
Torrance  County  from  north  to  south, 
touching  Estancia.  Willard  is  a  junc- 
tion point  of  this  road  and  the  Belen 
Cut-off  of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  & 
Santa  Fe,  and  Torance  is  a  junction 
point  for  the  New  Mexico  Central 
and  the  El  Paso  &  Suthwestern 
roads. 

A  grist  mill  is  in  operation  at  Mc- 
Intosh  in  this  county,  using  local 
grain  for  its  output. 

The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Torrance  county  is  13.5  inches ;  nor- 
mal seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  9.1  inches;  nor- 
mal seasonal  snowfall,  30.1  inches  ; 
mean  annual  temperature,  50°  ;  mean 
winter  temperature,  31°,  and  mean 

BANCROFT 


—SO— 

summer  temperature,  68°,  according? 
to  statistics  prepared  by  the  U.  S. 
Weather  Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from 
figures  furnished  by  the  station  at 
Estancia. 

UNION  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  11,404;  county 
seat,  Clayton;  acreage  open  to  entry 
under  the  U.  S.  Land  Office  at  Clay- 
ton, surveyed,  394,000;  unsurveyed, 
none.  Under  the  U.  S.  Land  Office 
at  Tucumcari.  surveyed,  68,105;  un- 
surveyed, 18,000. 

Principal  towns :  Clayton,  popula- 
tion, 970;  altitude,  5,178;  Des  Moines, 
population,  474;  Folsom,  population, 

TO"T. 

Union  County  is  situated  in  the  ex- 
treme northeastern  corner  of  the 
state  of  New  Mexico,  adjoining  Colo- 
rado on  the  north,  and  Oklahoma 
and  Texas  on  the  east.  Within  the 
years  from  1912  to  1915  it  has  made 
its  princpial  advancement  along 
farming  lines.  A  large  part  of  the 
lands  that  for  many  years  were  used 
solely  as  stock  ranges  are  now  be- 
ing cultivated  for  the  growing  of 
crops,  but  it  is  still  one  of  the  more 
important  stock  counties  in  the  state, 
and  it  will  continue  to  be  a  stock 
country  for  many  years  to  come,  as 
there  is  plenty  of  room  for  both 
farmers  and  stockmen.  The  county 
is  watered  by  a  great  number  of  small 
streams,  principally  tributaries  of 
the  Canadian  River,  which  runs  just 
south  of  the  Union  county  line. 

There  are  thousands  of  acres  open 
to  homeseekers  who  are  not  timid, 
and  are  willing  to  put  up  energy  and 
intelligent  effort  as  part  of  their  cap- 
ital. Dry  farming  methods  have 
proved  very  successful  in  this  coun- 
ty, and  in  the  past  few  years  excel- 
lent crops  of  corn,  wheat,  milo  maize, 
broom  corn,  kaffir  corn,  and  first- 
class  vegetables  have  been  grown 
without  irrigation.  These  results 
have  demonstrated  that  the  Campbell 
dry  farming  system  can  be  made  emi- 
nently successful.  Union  county  has 
had  a  large  immigration,  and  most  of 


-SI— 

those  that  have  come  have  remained. 
Prosperous  farming  communities  have 
grown  up  around  the  towns  above 
mentioned,  and  lands  of  the  county 
are  still  being  entered  upon. 

Clayton,  the  county  seat,  is  on  the 
line  of  the  Colorado  &  Southern 
railroad,  and  is  a  home  town  that  of- 
fers a  pleasant  place  for  a  residence. 
It  is  a  very  important  shipping  point, 
and  during  the  fall  of  1915,  before  the 
shipments  of  stock  and  grains  had 
really  begun,  there  were  sent  out 
from  this  point  86  carloads  of  grain; 
110  cars  of  dried  beans;  102  cars  of 
broom  corn,  and  96  carloads  of  cat- 
tle and  sheep,  and  more  of  these 
same  products  were  awaiting  ship- 
ment at  the  time  this  report  was  se- 
cured. 

Folsom  is  another  shipping  point, 
and  during  the  same  period  mentioned 
above  there  were  shipped  from  that 
station  112  cars  of  cattle  and  69  car- 
loads of  sheep. 

From  Des  Moines  there  were 
shipped  54  cars  of  grain;  11  cars  of 
dried  beans,  and  54  carloads  of  cat- 
tle and  sheep. 

The  reason  given  for  such  a  small 
shipment  of  stock  is  that  the  farming 
element  has  encroached  upon  the 
stockmen  to  such  an  extent,  during 
the  past  few  years,  that  stock  rais- 
ing no  longer  holds  the  prominent 
place  in  this  section  of  the  state  that 
it  formerly  held. 

All  of  these  shipments  were  to 
points  outside  of  the  state,  and  will 
convey  some  idea  of  the  character 
and  amount  of  products  of  Union 
County.  A  grist  mill  at  Clayton  is 
among  the  industries  operating  in 
this  county. 

The  normal  annual  precipita- 
tion in  Union  County  h  15.8  inches ; 
normal  seasonal  precipitation,  from 
April  to  September,  12.2  inches ; 
normal  seasonal  snowfall,  11.9 
inches.  Mean  annual  tempera- 
ture 57° ;  mean  winter  temperature 
38°,  and  mean  summer  temperature 
76°,  according  to  statistics  prepared 


by  the  U.  S.  Weather  Bureau  at  San- 
ta Fe,  from  figures  furnished  by  the 
station  at  Albert. 

VALENCIA  COUNTY. 

Population  in  1910,  13,320;  county 
seat,  Los  Lunas;  acreage  open  to  en- 
try under  the  U.  S.  Land  Office  at 
Santa  Fe,  surveyed,  778,972;  unsur- 
veyed,.  102,491. 

Principal  towns  :  Los  Lunas,  popu- 
lation, 719;  altitude,  4,843;  Belen,  pop- 
ulation, 680;  San  Rafael,  population, 
800. 

Valencia  County  is  situated  on  the 
western  border  of  the  state,  and  ex- 
tends almost  to  the  center  thereof,  it 
being  one  of  the  larger  counties  of 
New  Mexico.  The  Rio  Grande  crosses 
the  easterly  end  of  the  county  from 
north  to  south,  and  the  San  Jose 
river  also  waters  this  section  of  the 
county,  flowing,  into  the  Rio  Puerco, 
a  tributary  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and 
there  are  a  number  of  smaller 
streams  that  flow  through  other 
parts  of  the  county,  which  help  to 
water  the  lands. 

The  lands  in  Valencia  County  ly- 
ing along  the  streams  and  valleys 
have  long  since  passed  into  private 
ownership,  but  on  the  plains  east  and 
west  of  the  Rio  Grande  there  yet  re- 
main many  locations  for  homes. 
Several  promising  agricultural  dis- 
tricts in  this  county  may  be  made 
available,  about  which  information 
shoutd  be  obtained  from  the  U.  S. 
Land  Office. 

On  the  lands  of  Valencia  County 
grains  of  all  kinds,  alfalfa,  fruits  and 
vegetables  have  been  grown  abund- 
antly, and  grapes  have  been  produced 
that  would  equal  the  best  raised  any- 
where. 

There  are  three  flour  mills  in  this 
county,  one  at  Belen,  another  at 
Los  Lunas,  and  one  at  Jarales. 

Valencia  is  one  of  the  great  stock- 
growing  sections  of  the  state,  and 
lumber  also  holds  a  prominent  place 
among  its  industries,  especially  in 


—83— 

the  western  part  of  the  county.  There 
are  some  salt  deposits  also,  but  as 
yet  it  has  not  become  much  of  a  min- 
eral center  excepting  for  the  produc- 
tion of  copper,  and  this  is  found 
chiefly  in  the  Manzano  and  Zuni 
mountains,  though  in  some  places 
large  deposits  of  coal  are  indicated. 
Los  Lunas,  the  county  seat,  is  on 
the  main  line  of  the  Atchison,  Tope- 
ka  &  Santa  Fe,  running  south  from 
Albuquerque  to  El  Paso,  Texas,  and 
Belen  is  the  point  where  the  main 
line  of  the  same  road  makes  its  cut- 
off to  avoid  the  heavy  grades  on  the 
north,  consequently  this  is  quite  a 
lively  railroad  town.  The  main  line 
of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe 
from  cast  to  west,  runs  through  the 
northeasterly  portion  of  Valencia 
coanty,  and  the  great  mass  of  lava 
beds,  reen  from  the  windows  of  the 
trains  en  this  line,  are  located  in  this 
county.  There  are  also  several  In- 
dian pueblos,  including  the  celebrated 
Acoma  Pueblo,  which  is  built  on  a 
higih,  rocky  mesa,  commanding  an  ex- 
tensive view  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try, and  the  ruins  of  other  pueblos  are 
still  to  be  seen. 

A  part  of  the  Zufii  National  Forest 
takes  in  a  small  portion  of  this  coun- 
ty along  its  northern  border. 

But  perhaps  the  most  interesting 
national  monument  in  the  entire 
state  is  the  Inscription  Rock,  which 
is  also  located  in  Valencia  County.  It 
was  on  this  rock  that  several  of  the 
early  Spanish  explorers  inscribed  a 
brief  record  of  their  various  expedi- 
tions in  passing  that  way.  These 
records  date  back  to  a  very  early  pe- 
riod, that  of  Don  Juan  de  Onate,  the 
founder  of  Santa  Fe,  being  dated  in 
April  of  1605,  and  it  seems  to  be  his- 
torically certain  that  the  city  of 
Santa  Fe  was  not  founded  until  after 
his  return  from  the  expedition  men- 
tioned in  this  inscription.  This  rock 
is  of  such  great  value  to  the  histor- 
ian that  it  should  be  absolutely  pro- 
tected from  vandals  who  would  de- 
spoil it. 


The  normal  annual  precipitation  in 
Valencia  County  is  9.0  inches ;  normal 
seasonal  precipitation,  from  April  te 
September,  5.7  inches ;  normal  sea- 
sonal snowfall,  7.7  inches;  mean  an- 
nual temperature,  55°;  mean  winter 
temperature,  34°,  and  mean  summer 
temperature,  74°,  according  to  sta- 
tistics prepared  by  the  U.  S.  Weath- 
er Bureau  at  Santa  Fe,  from  figures 
furnished  by  the  station  at  Los  Lun- 
as. 


CONCLUSION. 

In  conclusion,  we  call  special  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that,  practically  ev- 
ery city  und  town  in  the  state  has 
either  a  Board  of  Trade  or  a  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce,  which  will  be  i*!;id 
to  furnish  information  concerning  jts 
particular  locality. 

In  addirion  to  these  may  he  men- 
tioned the  following  officials  to 
whom  application  may  be  made  for 
information  on  subjects  connected 
with  their  departments. 

State  Corporation  Commissioners : 
For  anything,  pertaining  to  railroads 
and  Public  Utilities,  and  other  cor- 
porations. 

Statue  Superintendent  of  Public 
Schools :  Schools  and  educational  in- 
stitutions. 

State  Engineer:  Water  rights,  Ir- 
rigation and  Highways. 

United  States  Weather  Bureau: 
Reports  dn  climate,  rainfall,  etc. 

United  States  Forestry  Depart- 
ment :  Grazing  and  timber  lands  in 
National  Forests. 

All  of  the  above  officials  may  be 
addressed  at  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 
For  further  information  on  any  of 
the  subjects  treated  of  in  this  book- 
let, address, 

ROBERT  P.  ERVIEN, 
Commissioner    of     Public    Lands. 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 


- 


GAVLAMOUNT 

PAMPHLET  BINDER 


i  6AYLORDBROS.Ii«. 
Syr«cui«,  N.  Y. 

S»«ckion,  CM. 


